Fiercely close racing as crews fight for Finals' places at the 2021 European Rowing Championships

With the Lago di Varese once again providing flat calm racing conditions, the racing on day two was fast and furious as crews contested repechages and semi-finals looking to secure places in tomorrow’s finals.

Men’s Pair (M2-) – Semifinals

 It was two pairs of brothers leading the first semifinal with Croatia’s Sinkovic brothers ahead of France’s Turlan brothers throughout the majority of the race, but the Romanian pair was also attacking. Croatia had established a clear water lead in the second half of the race and the top three places looked pretty comfortable. It was the Netherlands who took the early lead in semifinal two, settling into a comfortable looking rhythm, but approaching the 1,000m marker, the pack started to close up with Serbia moving through from fifth place. Serbia briefly took the lead in the final quarter of the race and it went to a photo finish with Italy taking the eventual honours. Great Britain also seemed to come from nowhere at the last minute but left it too late and the Netherlands were able to hold off their attack.

Qualifiers: CRO, ROU, FRA, ITA, SRB, NED

 Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (LW2x) – Semifinals

 Great Britain led out of the blocks in the first semifinal, ahead of the Netherlands. In the second half of the race, the Netherlands tried to close in on the British duo, but the Brits were able to respond and hold them off. Meanwhile, Romania overhauled Poland in the final quarter of the race to move into the third qualifying place. In the second semifinal, it was Italy that made the early impression, establishing a strong lead by 500m. Behind them, there was a great battle between Ireland and Russia with Ireland moving at the same speed as Italy in the final quarter of the race, but Italy held on to the lead to cross the line first.

Qualifiers: GBR, NED, ROU, ITA, IRL, RUS

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x) – Semifinals

 In the first semifinal, Italy led the first half of the race, but Ireland moved through like a knife through butter at the 1,000m marker to take the lead. The Irish duo continued to look comfortable to the line with Italy remaining in second and the Czech Republic holding off an attack from Spain for third place. Germany led the second semifinal, controlling the race from the front with Ukraine and Switzerland close behind. In the final stages, the Ukraine started to increase their boat speed with Switzerland trying to respond but not quite able to match the speed.

Qualifiers: IRL, ITA, CZE, GER, UKR, SUI

 Men’s Double Sculls (M2x) – Semifinals

 The first semifinal had a strong pedigree with four crews from the 2019 World Rowing Championships final. Ireland were dropped off the start with the other five crews going out at a fierce pace. France were the first to break away from the pack pulling out half a length over Switzerland after 750m. By the third quarter of the race, Great Britain had moved into second place and were trying to make ground on France. Italy went for a final charge but left it just too late to catch Switzerland. Defending European Champions, the Netherlands, led the second semifinal from the start, with Russia in second. In the second half of the race, Russia started to come under pressure from Poland with Germany also starting to make a move at 1,500m. Poland managed to sneak ahead of Russia by the finish line with Russia just holding off Germany.

Qualifiers: FRA, GBR, SUI, NED, POL, RUS

Men’s Four (M4-) – Semifinals

 The Netherlands showed that they intend to try and defend their European Championships title leading the first semifinal from the start with Switzerland in second and Poland holding the third qualifying place. The punchy 39 strokes per minute of the Dutch kept them in the lead across 1,500m, but they started to be challenged in the final quarter of the race. Romania went up to 45 strokes per minute to move into second place. There was a photo finish for third place with Poland being confirmed just ahead of Switzerland. Great Britain stamped their authority on the second semifinal with Italy in second and Russia in third at 1,000m. The qualifying places were unchanged at the finish.

Qualifiers: NED, ROU, POL, GBR, ITA, RUS

Women’s Single Sculls (W1x) – Semifinals

 Russia’s Hanna Prakhatsen continued to show her strength in the first semifinal, closely chased by Victoria Thornley of Great Britain and Sophie Souwer of the Netherlands. The top three scullers were all a similar speed at the 1,500m marker with Thornley appearing to wind down in the fourth quarter of the race, once the places looked confirmed. There were two medical withdrawals in the second semifinal so only four scullers started. Denmark’s Fie Udby Erichsen led from the start, but in third quarter, Swiss sculler Jeannine Gmelin moved into the lead with Erhcisen seeming to come off the gas and the other scullers moving through into the qualifying places.

Qualifiers: RUS, GBR, NED, SUI, BLR, UKR

 Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) – Semifinals

 Germany’s Oliver Zeidler was first to cross the 500m marker but only marginally ahead of the pack which included Spain’s Jordi Jofre Senciales and Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen. Natan Wegrzycki-szymczyk seemed to be slow to start but eventually sandwiched himself between Zeidler and Nielsen knowing he had done enough to qualify. In the second semifinal, Norway’s Kjetil Borch led the first half of the race, but in the third 500m, the young Greek, Stefanos Ntouskos, moved into the lead briefly until Croatia’s Damir Martin made his move. It was a two-part race in the final quarter but none of the scullers seemed to be out of contention. The top three remained unchanged with Borch eventually regaining the lead.

Qualifiers: GER, DEN, POL, NOR, CRO, GRE

 Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) – Semifinals

 Italy controlled the first semifinal, with Estonia in a comfortable second and then a great race for third place between Norway, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. With the top two places remaining unchanged, it was Lithuania that managed to take the third qualifying place. The strong, experienced Dutch crew established a strong lead early on in the second semifinal, with Great Britain in a comfortable second place and Poland in third as the crews went into the third quarter of the race. The Netherlands continued to move away, opening up clear water in the final stages of the race with second and third places remaining unchanged.

Qualifiers: ITA, EST, LTU, NED, GBR, POL