Wrapping up the heats at Aiguebelette World Rowing Cup

Men’s Four (M4-) – Heats

These crews got a chance to race in a preliminary race of a time trial yesterday with Canada and Australia showing good form. Today the crews were divided into two heats with the top two boats in each heat going directly to the final on Sunday. All other crews have to do a repechage this afternoon. As expected, Australia and the United States were the two leading crews in Heat One. These two countries finished with silver and bronze respectively at the 2013 World Rowing Championships and regularly do well in this boat class. The relaxed-looking style that Australia displayed is the signature of coach Drew Ginn and saw them lead the way at the finish.

In Heat Two, winner of the European Rowing Championships earlier this month, Great Britain, showed their true form by finishing first and recording the fastest qualifying time. The British crew of Gregory, Sbihi, Nash and Triggs Hodge did not push themselves in yesterday’s preliminary race and must have been saving themselves for today. Canada kept up with Great Britain through the first half of the race and then remained content to qualify from second.

Qualifiers: AUS, USA, GBR1, CAN

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Heats

The top times in yesterday’s preliminary races were close which meant today’s crews knew that they would have to race hard to be in the top two positions for a direct path to the finals. None of the medallists from last year’s World Rowing Championships were racing leaving a gap for some new nations to step up. Divided into two heats, Heat One ended in an incredibly tight finish between three crews. Austria, Mexico and the Czech Republic were all fighting for their position. Jiri Kopac and Miroslav Vrastil of the Czech Republic secured their spot by crossing first. Mexico was unlucky with Austria getting the upper hand on the line.

The faster heat turned out to be Heat Two when Great Britain set a cracking pace at the start and held the lead through the middle of the race. The British, however, must had spent all of their energy early on and had nothing left to give in the final sprint. In the last 20m both Argentina and France One sprinted through the British who could not react. The French crowd got a treat of seeing their crew – Clement Duret and Theophile Onfroy – cross the line in first, with Argentina right behind them.

Qualifiers: CZE, AUT, ARG, FRA1

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) – Heats

The German’s are the reigning World Champions, but in yesterday’s preliminary race they finished second. Today in Heat One, Germany were back on winning form leading the heat from start to finish. Germany raced at the World Rowing Cup in Sydney and also at the European Rowing Championships, have boated different line ups at both events. For Aiguebelette the line up has changed again, but it looks to be the best combination so far as they crossed the line in a healthy 6:22 to qualify for tomorrow’s final.

But the fastest qualifying time came in Heat Two with the United States burning down the course ahead of Poland. The Poles had a good warm up to this regatta by medalling at the European Rowing Championships, but they have adjusted their crew since then. Poland tried to stick with the United States – to no avail. The United States become the sole qualifiers. Poland will return for this afternoon’s repechage.

Qualifiers: GER, USA

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Heats

These boats all raced in yesterday’s preliminary race of a time trial, with China recording the fastest time, followed by Germany. Today, Germany was in Heat One. As 2014 silver medallists, the Germans got out to a fast start, but not as fast as the Czech Republic and France. By the middle of the race Germany moved into the lead and were chased hard by Canada. This is the first break out of the season for Canada. With Germany holding on to the lead, Canada continued to press hard. Meanwhile, the rest of the field looked like they decided to save themselves for an inevitable repechage this afternoon. Germany and Canada qualified directly for the final.

The Germans will have their work cut out for them if Heat Two is anything to go by. In the second heat Great Britain looked fired up as they led the field from start to finish. The British were second at the European Rowing Championships earlier this month and today they recorded the fastest qualifying time with an impressive 5:43. Helping push Great Britain to the finish was Estonia and China. The British held their cool until the finish to remain in first despite a fast 39 stroke rate by China in second.

Qualifiers: GER, CAN, GBR, CHN

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – Heats

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Divided into two heats the top boat only in each heat went directly to tomorrow’s final. This is quite an advantage as it means not having to race again in the repechage later today. In Heat One, France made the most of the home course advantage and led from start to finish. This crew included two rowers – Guillaume Raineau and Franck Solforosi – who raced to fourth at the 2008 Olympic Games. China chased hard and looked smooth coming into the final sprint at a 34 stroke rate. But the Chinese looked did not challenge for first and France thus goes directly to the final.

New Zealand opened Heat Two with a very small lead over current World Champions, Denmark. New Zealand and Denmark spent the 2013 season going head to head and it looks like it is starting again this season with New Zealand’s first international regatta for 2014. Both countries matched each other through the middle of the race. Then Denmark got their nose ahead in the last 200m. New Zealand decided not to attack back and with Denmark still at pace, New Zealand took the pressure right off. Denmark got to go directly to the final.

Qualifiers: FRA, DEN

Men’s Eight (M8+) – Heats

The two heats meant that only the top crew qualified directly to the final. Heat One opened with Belarus in the lead and closed with Belarus in the lead. China challenged but never managed to get their bow ball in front. Belarus, coxed by the very experienced Piotr Piatrynich, went directly to the final. Piatrynich, 56, first coxed in 1983 when Belarus was part of the Soviet Union. He took a big break through the 1990s and then came back to international rowing in 2005. Watch out for Belarus in the final.

Heat Two got the crowd fired up with France going head to head against the United States. After an initial lead by Poland, the United States took over in the lead. After France had overtaken Poland they closed on the Americans. In the final sprint France could feel that they were getting close to the Americans and took their rating to 49 strokes per minute. But the United States, at 38 then 42 strokes per minute, kept their rhythm long and held off France. France will have to race again this afternoon in the repechage.

Qualifiers: BLR, USA