Martina Satkova (CZE) reached the top step of the podium twice as the 2016 ICF Canoeing Wildwater World Cup Classic races opened four days of competition in the French Pyrenees town of Pau.
The talented 17-year-old, who is no stranger to success after medalling at the highest level in wildwater and slalom, won both the K1W and C1W races on the though and testing course that ran down the Gave de Pau outside the Pau-Pyrénées Whitewater Stadium.
“I felt very tired after racing in both C1 and K1 but it's awesome. I paddled so hard. I am a little surprised that I won the two events, I am happy.”
The young Czech star continued, “The second part of the course was very hard; especially the finish, it's so different from other courses. You have to focus a lot and have a lot of strength. It was nice.”
Like many, Satkova will now turn her attention to the wildwater sprint races that will start on Friday.
Compatriot Ondrej Rolenc (CZE) continued his successful season adding further to the five medals from the Banja Luka Worlds with C1 M gold in Pau.
“It's a very nice river. The finish is so hard we spent three days with the team to find out what would the best strategy be. We chose the left side because I wanted to play it safe and make sure to go through the difficulty.”
“I like this World Cup because we are all together here, slalom and wildwater athletes."
Talking about the next challenge, Rolenc continued, “The sprint course is tough too. I will do my best.”
Antonin Hales, also from the Czech Republic collected silver, whilst Stéphane Samtmaria (FRA) won the hosts a bronze.
Drama unfolded in the C2 Men’s event when the leading pair, Tony Debray and Louis Lapointe, capsized but astonishingly recovered to pull to victory.
“We knew the course was very hard and we wanted to arrive to the last difficulty with less speed to avoid any incident, but the exact opposite happened, we capsized.”
“After the race we had a look at the split times and saw that we were nine–seconds ahead of the others, so we did very well in the upper part.”
The two where followed by teammates Quentin Dazeur and Stéphane Samtmaria who collected silver.
Talking about their next challenge, Debray said, “We like the sprint course as well, it's completely different from what we are used to do. The race will be exciting as many stars are present.”
Simon Oven (SLO, Gold) edged ahead of Paul Jean (FRA, Silver) to claim the K1 Men’s title.
“I feel great, especially on this heavy course, it's a good feeling,” commented the Slovenian.
“The upper part is quite demanding, it's hard to make it perfect, and we have it even worse at the bottom with the last few meters where the smallest mistake can cost you a lot. We spent a lot of time trying to find the best way to approach it.”
“For sprint I have to make it to the final, then anything is possible.”
The action continues tomorrow with Canoe Slalom heats and Wildwater Sprint events.
C1 Men
Gold – Ondrej Rolenc (CZE) 12:00.09 / 0.00
Antonin Hales (CZE) 12:13.37 / +13.28
Stéphane Samtmaria (FRA) 12:17.20 / +17.11
K1 Women
Gold – Martina Satkova (CZE) 11:46.92 / 0.00
Silver – Claire Bren (FRA) 11:55.06 / +8.14
Bronze – Melanie Mathys (SUI) 12:02.26 / +15.34
K1 Men
Gold – Simon Oven (SLO) 10:40.89 / 0.00
Silver – Paul Jean (FRA) 10:42.37 / +1.48
Bronze – Paul Graton (FRA) 10:49.36 / +8.47
C2 Men
Gold – Tony Debray and Louis Lapointe (FRA) 11:47.82 / 0.00
Silver – Quentin Dazeur and Stéphane Samtmaria (FRA) 11:50.18 / +2.36
Bronze – Gerhard Schmid and Peter Draxl (AUT) 11:53.03 / +5.21
C1 Women
Gold – Martina Satkova (CZE) 12:15.10 / 0.00
Silver – Sabine Eichenberger(SUI) 12:30.46 / +15.36
Bronze – Manon Durand (FRA) 12:42.21 / +27.11
