Men's Double Sculls (M2x) -Final

Yesterday’s semifinals showed that Norway’s Nils Jakob Hoff and Kjetil Borch may be the crew to beat as they recorded the fastest qualifying time. In the heats, however, the Czech Republic’s Michal Polcek and David Jirka had the fastest time. Who would win gold today? At the start, winners of the first World Rowing Cup earlier this month, Marcel Hacker and Stephan Krueger of Germany led the way. Hacker is usually in a single, but when he was beaten at the German trials by Krueger, selectors decided to try out this double combination. It was working well as Hacker and Krueger continued to lead at the half-way point. 

Coming into the final sprint Hacker and Krueger had a very comfortable lead with France (Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias) in second and 2013 World Champions, Hoff and Borch following in third. Taking their stroke rate to 42, France moved on Germany. But the Germans had too much of a lead and crossed the line to become European Champions. The new combination of Boucheron and Androdias took silver and Ukraine’s Sergii Gryn and Ivan Futryk snuck through to take bronze ahead of Norway. 

Results: GER, FRA, UKR, NOR, BUL, CZE

Marcel Hacker (GER) – Gold

It was a very difficult race, especially mentally. The wind came really brutally from the side. We had to keep our technique and strategy together.

Matthieu Androdias (FRA) – Silver

This medal is incredible, we are really surprised as we are a very young crew. Germany are stronger than in Bled, it will be hard to beat them, but we will go for it.

Ivan Futryk (UKR) – Bronze

All the financial support goes to the quadruple sculls. They forget a little bit about the double. We train very hard and were very prepared. It is a surprise to get this result.

B-final

Denmark and Serbia moved away and stuck tightly together through the first half of the race. But then Denmark began to run out of steam and Great Britain took up chase. At the line Marko Marjanovic and Aleksandar Filipovic of Serbia had finished first and seventh overall at this regatta.

Results: SRB, GBR, DEN, LTU, LAT, HUN