After losing the 2015 C1 Canoe Slalom world title in less than the time it takes to blink an eye, Slovenia’s Benjamin Savsek is hoping he’ll finally break through next week at the 2017 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in Pau, France.

Savsek has won silver at the past two ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, and won bronze at the World Championships before that.

At the last World Championships, at Lea Valley in the UK in 2015, he finished just 0.04 seconds behind gold medallist and hometown favourite, David Florence. There’s very little that can be achieved in 0.04 seconds, except lose a gold medal.

So the progression has been steady, and after winning the World Cup final in Spain earlier this month, Savsek has every right to believe his time is now.

Even though it was his only podium result for the year, it was enough to leave him second in the overall 2017 World Cup standings.

“I know I’m good, I know I’m fast,” Savsek said after La Seu.

“I will try and paddle with my head and not do big mistakes at the World Championships.

“My goal this season was to have a good result overall, so I’m really happy to have finished second.”

On overall form, Germany’s Sideris Tasiadis will be the pre-race favourite after an outstanding 2017 that saw him pick up two gold and two silver medals.

“It’s been an incredible World Cup season for me, because I’ve made every final and made four podiums,” he said this month.

“I love to be in the boat and feel the water. I’ve just had so much fun this year and am so happy to be doing this sport.”

Olympic gold medallist Denis Gargaud Chanut will have the home town support in Pau, but has not finished on the podium at three outings in 2017.

Likewise Great Britain’s Florence, a two-time C1 World Champion, has also failed to make a podium in his four attempts this year.

Slovakia’s Olympic silver medallist, Matej Benus, has held his form in 2017 though, winning a gold, silver and bronze medal and finishing fourth in the overall standings.

The men’s C1 competition will begin on Thursday, with the finals on Saturday.

Canoe Slalom
#ICFslalom #canoeslalom