Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK, C1M), Jessica Fox (AUS, C1W) and Benjamin Renia (FRA, K1M) each qualified in their respective top spot and comfortably moved to the semifinal stage as the opening action got underway at the 2016 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Ivrea, Italy.
Later Anna Satila (BRA, K1W) and the duo of Pierre-Antoine Tillard and Edern Le Ruyet (FRA, C2M) went through as event leaders in their competitions too.
In the C1M Slafkovsky looked impressive stopping-the-clock in 91.82 with no touches.
The 33-year-old Slovakian, who is world ranked 6, bettered both teammate Marko Mirgordsky (SVK) and the Czech Republic’s Michal Jane’s times to secure top spot and the coveted last run position for the weekend's semifinals.
Multiple-Olympic medallist, Michal Martikan (SVK) also cruised through to the latter stages with ease. The super talented paddler will look to start the season well and put the disappointment of missing selection for his sixth successive Games behind him.
The bronze medallist from the 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships, Ryan Wesley (GBR) also put in an accomplished performance with a time that provided the 22-year-old a safe passage through to the latter stages.
In the C1W the favourites showed their class and completed the 23-gates course without too many issues.
The top three of Fox, Nuria Vilarrubla (ESP) and Mallory Franklin (GBR) each incurred two-second penalties on their way down, but showed they had unrivalled straight line speed as they distanced the closest of the rest by over four-seconds.
Fox later needed a second attempt to ensure continuation in the K1W after missing the first gate. Ever the professional she went on to produce the fastest time of the heat.
Elizabeth Neave (GBR), also a regular contender, was forced to go the same route as Fox.
Neave qualifed and will set off early in the semifinal hoping for a considerably better performance.
Naomi Fox also followed her older sister into the K1W semifinal. The 19-year-old took the last spot on offer squeezing through in 20th place.
26-year-old Renia just edged out the double world cup series champion, Sebastian Schubert (GER) by a slim margin of zero-point-three-of-a-second to go through in pole position in the K1M.
Slovakia’s Martin Halcin picked up third; meanwhile the talented trio from the Czech Republic of Vavrinec Hradilek, Andrej Tunka and Vit Prindis also each secured top ten places to go through at the first time of asking.
Spanish duo of Joan Crespo and Samuel Hernanz were another two that progressed at the first opportunity and will undoubtably have enjoyed the course in Ivrea that shows some striking similarities to their home course in north Spain.
Full results – Click Here
