Florence, capital of rowing for the San Giovanni Trophy

The Mixed 8+ team from VK Bled (Slovenia) emerged victorious at the inaugural 500-meter sprint race, the “San Giovanni Trophy – Challenge Canottieri Firenze,” held last Thursday, June 27th, in Florence near the historic Ponte Vecchio. In a thrilling head-to-head race, the Slovenian crew, rowing in a Filippi F42 from the new “Performance” line, narrowly defeated the Italian team.

 In the B-Final, the French team from Club Aviron Vichy overcame the Dutch 8+ from Delft (Laga) University. The event featured competitors from eight nations, including Cambridge University (GB), Marburg University (GER), C.N. Seville (ESP), and a Federal Belgian (BEL) crew. The event was organised by Società Canottieri Firenze under the leadership of President Michele Nannelli, with Filippi as the main partner.

Adding to the excitement, the men’s 8+ boat that won Olympic gold for New Zealand at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was on display along the Arno riverbanks under the Uffizi Gallery. The winning team will present the trophy again as a prize for the next edition.

This sprint race coincided with the first stage of the Tour de France, which started from Florence for the first time ever. It was a celebration of two disciplines, rowing and cycling, coming together in the heart of the Italian Renaissance. The event also aimed to involve nations where cycling enjoys significant popularity, particularly in Europe, as a nod to the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.

Photos thanks to Filippi Boats.