Final test before World Rowing Championships at World Rowing Cup III

Men’s Coxed Pair (M2+) – Final

Germany’s Malte Grossmann and Rene Stueven got away the quickest in this first final of World Rowing Cup III. They were being guided by coxswain Jonas Wiesen who was doing his best to motivate his crew. In the test race yesterday Germany had led for most of the race, but Spain overtook just before the line. Australia did not race in the test race and became the unknown quantity for today. Germany must have been wary of the Spanish today as they kept their speed on going through the middle of the race with Australia in second. Grossmann and Stueven then pushed clean away from the rest of the field. Australia gave it their best shot to catch Germany, but the Germans remained strong and in front.

Results: GER, AUS, ESP

Jonas Wiesen (c), Germany, gold
“Good race today, we had a really strong middle thousand metres. After the test race we tried our strength in the last part because we knew Australia had a fast finish.”

James Rook (c), Australia, silver
“I didn’t know what to expect during the race, but it was really good to come out and try and win. Great communication through the guys today. We threw the kitchen sink at it and really went for it.”

Jaime Lara Pacheco (b), Spain, bronze 

“We had a slow start, then we tried to catch up on the metres. We came back in the middle of the race, but we were empty for the finish. Our goal is Florida.”

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Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Final

It was Kirsten McCann of South Africa and Marieke Keijser of the Netherlands One matching each other stroke for stroke at the start of this final. McCann comes to the single from racing at the Rio Olympics in the lightweight double and Keijser became the under-23 World Champion in 2016. The rest of the field followed these two leaders very closely and at the half way point only half a second separated the top four scullers. These rowers would have to sprint through the third 500 if they wanted to earn the leaders edge. And that is exactly what McCann did as a head wind began to form.

But the race was far from over as the fight for the line saw the field close up again. McCann had taken gold with her 37 stroke rate pace at the finish. Keijser was second and a photo finish between the United States’ Mary Jones and Patricia Merz of Switzerland saw Merz take the bronze by just 0.04 of a second.

Results: RSA, NED1, SUI, USA1, SWE, FRA

Marieke Keijser, Netherlands, silver
“The four of us were in one line. It was an amazing race. I really wanted to be first, I’ll have to do better next time. Now I go to the under 23s in the single and then probably also in the single for Sarasota.”

Patricia Merz, Switzerland, bronze

“Near the end I was fourth and then I thought that I really needed a good finish. To win a medal on home soil makes me really proud as it is sometimes difficult to perform when the expectations are high.”

B-final

Poland’s Joanna Dorociak led from the start and held enough of a margin to be able to watch the tussle going on behind her. But then Denmark’s Aja Runge Holmegaard did a successful closing sprint to win at the line.

Results: DEN1, POL1, MEX, USA2, DEN2, POL2

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – Final

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These scullers raced earlier today in the semifinals and the trick would have been to make sure they had saved enough energy for this afternoon’s final. The first to show in this talented field was Hungary’s Peter Galambos who shot out ahead of Lucerne local sculler Michael Schmid. Schmid continued to hold on to Galambos as they went through the middle of the race. Behind these two scullers another battle was going on between Poland and Norway. Galambos then started to suffer from his fast start and Schmid grabbed the opportunity and pushed into the lead with Poland’s Artur Mikolajczewski now really picking up the pace.

The sprint was on to the line. Rating 41, Mikolajczewski had gotten there first. Schmid, also at 41, earned the silver but just 0.08 of a second over Galambos who would claim the bronze.

Results: POL, SUI1, HUN, NOR, NZL, SLO

Artur Mikolajczewski, Poland, gold
“Winning is always good. It’s a surprise for me as I didn’t think I could win today. The conditions were perfect for me, flat water and a bit of head wind.”

Michael Schmid, Switzerland, silver

“I am really happy. My preparation was not ideal due to injury. Next is a bit of holiday and then back to training to prepare for the World Championships.”

Peter Galambos, Hungary, bronze

“Really good race. I gave 110% today. I am feeling a little tired now since Belgrade and the Europeans being quite near to each other. I am starting to feel it a bit. I am looking forward to a little bit of a break before Sarasota.”

B-final

Lars Wichert of Germany held a small margin at the start of this B-final. Wichert has an international rowing career that goes back a decade which has involved a number of boats. The German led the way from start to finish and won by clear water ahead of Olympian Peter Chambers of Great Britain

Results: GER, GBR, USA2, SUI2, SVK, POR1

Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) – Final

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Ireland’s Mark O’Donovan and Shane O’Driscoll are the reigning European Champions, but they were not leading at the start of this race. Instead it was Joel Cassells and Sam Scrimgeour of Great Britain who won the test race yesterday. Cassells and Scrimgeour also have a silver medal from last month’s World Rowing Cup. The British kept the pace on and remained ahead of the Irish with Brazil also very much on the pace.

Then going through the middle of the race O’Donovan and O’Driscoll picked up the pace and not only overtook the British, but they also managed to get a boat length advantage. What would the British do? Rating 42 Ireland charged for the line with Cassells and Scrimgeour now being challenged by Xavier Vela Maggi and Willian Goaretton of Brazil. But no one saw them coming. The Russian crew of Nikita Bolozin and Aleksei Kiiashko was flying down the outside. They overtook the British, then Brazil and snatched the silver medal. Brazil held on to bronze.

Results: IRL, RUS, BRA, GBR, FRA, NOR

Mark O’Donovan (b), Ireland, gold
“Today was really good. After the test race, we had to really pull our socks up. We spoke to some of the others from the team and we got a good confidence booster from them for today.”

Aleksei Kiiashko (s), Russia, silver

“The race was really hard. I really enjoy having strong opponents, it is good to be on the same level.”

 

Willian Giaretton (s), Brazil, bronze

“It was a very close race. We had a strong start and then didn’t see a lot. We gave everything we had and we won a medal, that’s great. Now the goal is the world champs.”

 

 

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (LM4x) – Final

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These boats left the start at a speed more than 21 km/hour with France just that bit faster than the other five crews. Then the Czech Republic, who took bronze at the European Rowing Championships, moved slightly ahead of France. But the field remained very tight with a couple of seconds separating the top five boats. The Czech Republic, Italy and France then managed to break away from the rest of the field as they went through the middle of the race. There was still, however, 1000m left to row and this is when the boats with the best fitness would really show through.

Italy then picked up the pace and got ahead of the Czechs with France remaining neck-and-neck with the Czechs. Rating 44 Italy charged for the line and crossed it in a time just six seconds outside of the World Best Time and a new World Cup Best Time breaking the former time that has stood since 2008. The new time 5:48.39. France gained silver and the Czechs earned bronze.

Results: ITA, FRA, CZE, GER, AUS, NED

Andrea Micheletti, (s), Italy, gold
“I think it was one of our best races. We started a little bit slowly, but we really increased speed towards the end. From 1000m, we just tried to keep the same pace until the finish.”

Stany Delayre, France, silver

“In the last 300m the Italians pushed and we struggled to relax. Normally we should race in this quad at the world championships. The goal is to win gold.”

Jan Hajek (s), Czech Republic, bronze

“We had the lead until 1000m. Then the Italians pushed, which made us lose the tempo. It was really hard in the last 500m, that is really not what we wanted.”

B-final

The pace was set by Norway as they got away the quickest and led the way through the middle of the race. Behind them it was very, very close with less than two seconds separating the rest of the field. Norway held off the fight that was going on behind them and they still had the lead coming into the final sprint with now an open water lead. The field, however, managed to close on Norway in the final sprint.

Results: NOR, HKG, JPN, HUN, POR

Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls (LW4x) – Finals

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Australia got away the quickest with Amy James, Alice Arch, Georgia Miansarow and Georgia Nesbitt looking the picture of synchronicity as they tried to push away from Great Britain in second. As the race progressed the margins between these three final boats began to widen with Japan dropping off the pace. Australia remained out in front and it would take a huge sprint for Great Britain to get into the gold medal spot.

The Australian supporters near the finish line cheered their crew across the line with Australia setting a new World Cup Best Time. The new standard is now 6:26.32 which broke the former time from 2008 by more than two seconds.

Results: AUS, GBR, JPN

Georgia Miansarow, Australia, gold

“It was a good race, we had a good start and then we held and listened to the calls. Today was a bit of “bang, bang, bang” as this morning we qualified for the heavyweight women’s quad final. Tomorrow we are going to fly out and try to hold on.”

Gemma Hall, Great Britain, silver

It was a good race today considering we had only been in the boat together for a week. Before this we had all been in doubles, so it’s the first time to see how we would race. We’re now looking to build on this toward Sarasota.”

Natsumi Yamaryo (s), Japan, bronze

“Today was better than yesterday. It was a good race for us. There was a really strong wind out there. We’ll see you maybe in Sarasota.”

Lightweight Men’s Four (LM4-) – Final 

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A realignment meant this races started just a bit late but it didn’t faze Italy who got away very quickly at the start. It was Germany, however, that got to the first 500m mark in the lead. It was very tight and it looked like Germany and Italy was trading places for the lead through the second 500. Italy’s crew of Duchich, Barbaro, Tedesco and Sfiligoi got to the half way point just ahead of Germany and they then started to press away from Germany. Then Russia, the reigning European Champions then started to make themselves known and they had picked up the rating to drive through Germany. The Russians then went after Italy in the last 150m of the race. Italy saw it coming and took their stroke rate to 40. Russia reacted with a 39 stroke rate. There was very little in it at the line. Italy had won by a nose.

Results:  ITA, RUS, GER, INA2, INA1

Piero Sfiligoi (s), Italy, gold
“Very good today considering how much time we had together. We’ve been in the boat for only a month. Different conditions to this morning, there is a tail wind now, so we made sure we stayed compact until the finish.”

Patrik Stoecker (b),  Germany, silver
“It was a good race. It’s always good to win a medal and we are happy about it. This is our qualifying regatta for the world championships, so hopefully we’ll go there.”