The last World Cup in Račice was exciting as it was nerve-wrecking. There were enough “close calls” to make even the more seasoned athletes a little nervy, for example the Men’s K1 1000m race between the canoeing’s most elite stars. After three days in the middle of rural splendor, the athletes are ready to head west to Duisburg, Germany, where the German Canoe Federation is ready to host over 500 athletes from 45 countries. Races run from 27 – 29 May 2011 and can be viewed on the ICF Website LIVE.

In Poznan a number of teams had stayed home to complete their pre-season preparation programmes and hold National Team selections, but most returned in Račice, and all are expected in Duisburg for the last of the three Canoe Sprint World Cup Series. The competition this weekend is expected to be of greater monumental value to the athletes, as it will serve as an indicator of who to beat at the World’s and European Championships.

Račice highlights: In the Men’s K1 1000m Aleh Yurenia (BLR), unaccustomed to seeing the back of any athlete at the end of any race could only take 3rd place in what was considered a race among the titans of canoeing. In the Men’s K1 500m he was relegated to the C Final of the Men’s K1 500m, but nevertheless gracefully claimed first place in this race. Vadim Menkov (UZB) is another athlete that will be searching for answers (and results) this weekend; after Mark Oldershaw (CAN) beat him to first place, Vadim finished second in the Men’s C1 1000m and was disqualified from the Men’s C2 500m; he will be longing for the sight of Duisburg. Ivan Shtyl and Evgeny Ignatov (RUS) led the Russian domination by taking 1st and 3rd place in the Men’s C1 200m race.

The Austrian duo of Yvonne Schuring and Viktoria Schwarz (Women’s C2 200m, 500m, 1000m) are women on a mission, having bagged medals in both Poznan and Račice, it is easy to imagine them going unchallenged in Duisburg. Teresa Portela (POR) left a mediocre weekend in Poznan behind and arrived in Račice with a clear mind and a winning mindset. Gold in the Women’s K1 200m and a Bronze in the K4 500m, she will undoubtedly be looking to keep up the good form in Duisburg. Edward McKeever (GBR) continues his dominance of the Men’s K1 200m, but will the competition of Ronald Rahue and Max Hoff (GER) change in Duisburg? Anders Gustafsson (SWE) always the man to beat aced the Men’s K1 500m and we will know in Duisburg whether he will finally clinch that evasive K1 1000m win.

Also interesting to see in Duisburg is whether the Belarus Men’s K4 1000m and Women’s K4 500m teams will continue their domination of these events. The Belarus Men won a Silver and Bronze medal in Poznan and Gold in Račice. The American women had some good results in the 1000m distance in both the K1 and K2 events, all eyes will be on them to see whether their overall showing in Račice is a warning sign to the other teams that there is another major contender ready to join the pack. We continue to look out for leading lady Olympic Champion Inna Osypenko-Radomska (UKR) who joins the athletes still in the hunt for a World Cup medal in Duisburg this weekend.

Countries to watch for: Russia topped the medals table in Račice, and Belarus (Poznan World Cup’s Best National Team) took 2nd Place. Canada who was absent in Poznan smashed right through the table to take the 3rd spot and Poland who had come in 2nd in Poznan could only manage 13th place. For any possible surprises, look out for the ever ascending Portuguese and the US Team.