Hungary’s Vanda Kiszli will come off a cracking K1 5000 gold medal at last weekend’s ICF Canoe Sprint World Cup in Szeged to start one of the favourites in this weekend’s opening Canoe Marathon World Cup in Portugal.

Kiszli held off a world-class field to take the gold in front of her home crowd in the new canoe sprint 5000 metre format, which included two portages.

The 2017 Canoe Marathon World Championship silver medallist will get the chance in Viana Do Castelo this weekend to renew her rivalry with fellow Hungarian and 18-time world champion, Renata Csay.

Csay also started in last weekend's 5000 metre race, but was forced to withdraw midway through the event.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work, but I think it was good for me,” Kiszli said.

“I have a new group, I moved to Budapest, which I think was the best decision for me.”

More than 460 athletes from almost 20 countries will be competing at this weekend’s World Cup.

Host nation Portugal will have the biggest number of representatives, with neighboring Spain also set to send a strong team.

Canoe marathon powerhouses Hungary, South Africa and Great Britain will be strongly represented, and there are also athletes from Australia, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and Ukraine.

Athletes will be competing for a 15.000 euros prize pool. There will also be a masters competition.

Among the biggest names competing will be five-time European champion, Jose Ramalho, who lives just a few kilometres from the race venue.

The ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup will be held in Viana do Castelo, Portugal, from May 25 until May 27.