Lightweight Men's Double Sculls Final

The French are back. Stany Delayre and Jeremie Azou of France may not have made last year’s World Rowing Championships in a double and Delayre may have had to come back from injury, but it looks like they’ve done it. In Belgrade at their first major race since 2013 Delayre and Azou soundly defended their 2031 European Championship title with a race that saw them leading from start to finish. 

The race, however, was not an easy ride. Coming through the middle 1000m mark Delayre and Azou led a field separated by less than three seconds. The French then did a push and moved away from Switzerland in second and Germany in third. In the sprint to the line France showed their style to hold the edge with the real excitement happening right behind them. With Delayre and Azou safely across the line in first, Italy, Norway and Germany crossed together. Germany’s Konstantin Steinhuebel and Lars Hartig were in second and World Champions, Kristoffer Brun and Are Strandli were in third.

Azou and Delayre not only set a new European Best Time of 6:11.80, but they also come within spitting distance of the World Best Time.

Results: FRA, GER, NOR, ITA, SUI, NED

Gold – Jeremie Azou – FRA

We feel so good. It was a very concentrated effort in the boat – the weather conditions were tough but we’re so happy to win again.

Silver – Kristoffer Brun – NOR

We hoped to do better, we wanted more than third so we feel quite stressed.

Bronze– Lars Hartig – GER

 We had a plan – we were going fast and we’re thinking we can do this, we can do this. But in the end we’re very satisfied with the result.