Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) - Final

The German crew of Sven Kessler and Julius Peschel had recorded the fastest time through yesterday’s heats. This earned them a direct path to the final along with Spain, China and Italy. Kessler and Peschel both raced in their nation’s lightweight men’s four at last year’s World Rowing Championships. The boat did not manage to qualify for the Rio Olympics and it looks like they are back to the drawing board for 2016. At the start China (Tao Zeng and Deming Kong) had a smidgen of a lead over Germany with Switzerland right on the pace.

Then the Swiss did a huge push that not only got them up with the Germans and Chinese, it gave them the lead. The lead, however, was slight and as Switzerland also had to race this morning, the question was could they maintain the pace. They seemed to. With 500m left to row Switzerland had nearly a second over Kessler and Peschel. Germany then upped their rating and got their nose ahead of the Swiss.  The German’s held it to the line with Fiorin Rueedi and Joel Schuerch of Switzerland bravely holding on to second. China took third.

Results: GER, SUI, CHN, ESP, TUR, ITA

B-final

Portugal had the best start, but margins remained incredibly tight between these three crews. At the half way point just over a second separated the field. This must have been brutal for the rowers who had already raced earlier today. Spain then managed to break away and stay ahead of Portugal who took their stroke rate to 40 to try and finish first.

Results: ESP, POR, JPN

Sven Kessler (b) – GER – gold

“It is a great feeling to have won this race. We raced against the Swiss in the heat and we were surprised when they were in front at 1000m because they had to go through the repechage. (Julius Peschel) But when we started the final burst, I knew I still had so much in the tank, I knew I would make it.”

Fiorin Rueedi (b) – SUI – silver

“This is our first ever A-final, so our race plan was to keep it really simple and focus on our own race. It was really exciting around 1000m when we were all level. All of a sudden at 750m we realised we were out front and we just went for it. We are racing at the European Championships and the Under-23 Championships in Rotterdam.”