The International Canoe Federation returns to the venue of its very first world titles more than 60 years ago this weekend, with five reigning world champions heading a quality field in Treignac, France.
This weekend will feature sprint and classic events, the first full world titles since 2018, with 20 nations set to compete.
Among the athletes in action this weekend will be multiple world champions Nejc Znidarcic, Ondrej Rolenc and Cecila Panato, and former canoe sprint Olympic, world and European champion Max Hoff, returning to the sport where his career began and where he won a world title in 2006.
In men’s kayak, Znidarcic will be chasing a fourth consecutive sprint title. The Slovenian has only missed a medal once since 2010, and has been world champion on five occasions. His biggest challenge is likely to come from teammates Anze Urankar and reigning K1 classic champion, Simon Oven, while German Hoff will attract plenty of interest.
French 2016 Rio Olympian and 2018 wildwater world champion Manon Hostens returns to the sport where she won her first medal almost a decade ago. The 27-year-old also won silver in the K1 classic in 2018, and was a classic gold medalist in 2016.
French teammate and 2019 world champion Phenica Dupras and 2021 world champion Tereza Kneblova from the Czech Republic will also be pushing hard for medals in the sprint, while in the classic Hostens will be looking to regain the crown she lost in 2018.
In canoe, Czech Rolenc lines up as the defending champion in both the men’s sprint and classic events. The 30-year-old is a four-time world champion in men’s sprint, and has won medals in the past four classic world title races, culminating in his first gold in 2018.
French paddler and 2021 and 2014 sprint silver medalist, Quentin Dazeur, will be among the main threarts to Rolenc.
In the women’s canoe, Italy’s Cecilia Panato will be defending her 2021 sprint title and pushing for her third title overall. Panato has been in the top two at the past three sprint world titles, and is also the reigning silver medalist in the women’s classic race.
Treignac hosted the first ever ICF wildwater world championships in 1959, and then hosted again in 2000. Competition begins on Friday and continues through to Monday, and will also include Masters races.
