Olympic and Paralympic Ranking points will be up for grabs as intensity ramps up in Brandenburg, Germany this week.
The International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup will be staged at the Beetzsee from May 14 to 17.
With one day to go until the World Cup gets underway, the ICF picks out five things to watch from the thrilling programme.
Click here for live startlists and results from Brandenburg
1. German K4 ready to respond on home waters
While there was joy for Germany in Szeged, there was also disappointment. Germany clinched two kayak double golds with victories for Jacob Schopf and Max Lemke and Paulina Paszek and Pauline Jagsch.
But the German kayak four teams failed to get on the podium.
Tom Leibscher-Lucz came back into the K4, reuniting with the team that won gold at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
But they finished in fifth position as Hungary emerged victorious.
Now, with the home fans behind them, Leibscher-Lucz, Schopf, Lemke and Max Rendschmidt will be looking to roar victory.
Germany’s women’s K4 will also be hoping to improve after struggling to make an impact in Szeged.
2. Paralympic champions back in action
More than 150 of the world’s best Paracanoe paddlers will take to the startline over the next four days, aiming to secure Paralympic Ranking points.
Among those will be multiple Paralympic gold medallists Emma Wiggs of Great Britain and Curtis McGrath of Australia.
It will be a welcome return for both athletes who have not competed on the international stage since the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
McGrath, a four-time Paralympic champion, will be competing in the men’s KL2 as he sets sights on Los Angeles 2028.
Back after recovering from shoulder surgery, three-time Paralympic gold medallist Wiggs will be lining up in the women’s VL2 and will give another big boost to the British team.
3. Lauridsen leads German Paracanoe hopes
Germany will seek to make home advantage count in Paracanoe having fielded an experienced team.
Gold medal hopes will rest on the shoulders of Chinette Karina Lauridsen who swept to victory in the women’s VL1 at last year’s World Championships in Milan.
She is set to face competition from Italy's Viktoryia Pistis Shablova.
Another medal contender for Germany is Anja Adler, the Paralympic bronze medallist in the women’s KL2, while European champion Moritz Berthold will be hoping to be in the mix for medals in the men’s VL1.
4. Can China continue winning streak?
Looking at the Olympic Ranking tables, it’s China that are leading the way across the board in Canoe Sprint.
The Chinese team have started 2026 with a bang, largely thanks to their dominant display at the Asian Canoe Sprint Championships – the first Olympic Ranking event of the season – and then an impressive performance in Szeged.
China topped the standings at the opening World Cup of the season with 10 medals, including four golds.
The Chinese quartet in both the women’s kayak four and women’s canoe four were triumphant and will be determined to continue that momentum.
World champions Spain will be looking to bounce back in the women’s K4 500m after coming up just 0.02 seconds short of winners China.
5, Who can challenge Luzan?
Whatever Luidmyla Luzan touches is turning to gold at the moment.
The Ukrainian star issued a big statement in Szeged with stunning victories in the Olympic events of the women’s canoe single 200m and women’s canoe double 500m alongside Anastasiia Rybachok.
After winning four world titles in Milan last year, Luzan is showing no signs of slowing up. In fact, she is getting quicker as she set a world’s best time in the women’s C1 200m, winning in 43.23.
She finished almost a full second quicker than her nearest challenger, Cuba’s Yarisleidis Cirilo Duboys.
The Cuban is expected to mount a strong challenge again, while Olympic champion Katie Vincent and her Canadian counterpart Sophia Jensen will also look to stop Luzan in her tracks.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Sprint World Cups can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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