A reigning world champion and a reigning Olympic gold medalist picked up wins on the final day of the ICF canoe slalom world cup in Markkleeberg, Germany, on Sunday.
Local paddler Andrea Herzog finished more than four seconds ahead of the field in the women’s C1 final, while Frenchman Denis Gargaud Chanut was more than two seconds faster than the next best in the men’s C1.
Herzog was the only paddler in the women’s final to post an error-free run, with the challenging course bringing most of the field unstuck. Herzog won her first world title in 2019, and heads to her first Olympic Games as a strong medal prospect.
“All the people were cheering so loud, I just told myself to stay calm,” Herzog said.
“Last year we had no competition so I had time to work on my mindset, and it’s working pretty well this season. I know now that I am really fast, and that I can definitely win a medal.
“But Tokyo is another course, so I will have to focus one more time and then we will see who is the best.”
The ultra-consistent Czech, Tereza Fiserova, finished second, 4.35 seconds behind with a two-second penalty, while Austria’s Nadine Weratschnig also picked up a penalty on her way to the bronze medal.
Both Fiserova and Weratschnig will be competing in Tokyo.
Denis Gargaud Chanut will not be going to Tokyo to defend his C1 gold medal from Rio in 2016, but issued a reminder to his opponents on Sunday that he is still one of the world’s most formidable canoe paddlers.
His victory by 2.12 seconds comes after his European title earlier this year, and he admits also adds to the frustration of not winning selection to Tokyo.
“What can I say? They hurt me, but now I am back in my youth and very hungry,” Gargaud Chanut said.
“It’s going to be very hard. I am having nightmares every day about Tokyo. It’s not an easy situation, but it’s like that, I have to be a sportsman and show fair play, but it is going to hurt.
“I have to see how my head reacts to Tokyo. I can’t make any long term plans. I’m going to watch the Olympics, but I’m not sure I will be able to watch the canoe slalom event, because I feel great, I can not defend my title, I am European champion, now I win a world cup, so it is going to be a sad moment for me for sure.”
Germany’s Sideris Tasiadis finished second, while Slovenia’s Benjamin Savsek posted the fastest raw time in the final, but picked up six seconds in penalties to push him back to the bronze medal position.
In extreme slalom, Russia’s Kseniia Krylova improved on her bronze medal performance from Prague to take the gold in Markkleeberg on Sunday, finishing ahead of Germany’s former world champion, Caroline Trompeter, with the Czech Republic’s Amalie Hilgertova third.
In the men’s competition, Brazil’s Pedro Goncalves was unbeaten throughout the afternoon and held his form in the final, beating last week’s gold medalist, Vit Prindis of the Czech Republic, and another former German world champion, Stefan Hengst.
The ICF canoe slalom world cup was the final major international competition before the Tokyo Olympics. There will be two more world cups in September.
RESULTS
WOMEN’S C1
- HERZOG Andrea (GER) 91 (0 seconds penalties)
- FISEROVA Tereza (CZE) 26 (2)
- WERATSCHNIG Nadine (AUT) 112.80 (2)
MEN’S C1
- GARGAUD CHANUT Denis (FRA) 94.75 (0)
- TASIADIS Sideris (GER) 96.87 (0)
- SAVSEK Benjamin (SLO) 99.59 (6)
WOMEN’S EXTREME SLALOM
- KRYLOVA Kseniia (RUS)
- TROMPETER Caroline (GER)
- HILGERTOVA Amalie (CZE)
MEN’S EXTREME SLALOM
- GONCALVES Pedro (BRA)
- PRINDIS Vit (CZE)
- HENGST Stefan (GER)
Pics by Bence Vekassy
