Gonzalo Melero | Sportscene - The 36th Río Negro Regatta began last Saturday in Argentina: 7 stages totalling 277 km. Entries record, with 128 canoes including the great champions of this race, 11-time winners, Argentinians Néstor Pinta and Martin Mozzicafredo. However, this year, the newly formed duo of Argentinian Santiago Scalesi and Spanish Federico "Kiko" Vega were trying to end the Patagonians' reign, along with the promising young pair formed by U23 Franco Balboa and José Guerrero.

Saturday was the opening stage between Senillosa and Neuquén. Under hot sunny weather, the first kilometres of the stage were as usual at Río Negro, with a large number of K2s in the front bunch, as the race is long, with not many rest options from one day to the next one, so nobody wants to expend unnecesary fuel from the start.

At the half stage it became clear that this year, unless any major surprises, the podium would be decided among the three favorites, the thrill is just knowing what the order will be. Ahead were Pinta-Mozzicafredo, Vega-Scalesi and Balboa-Guerrero, leaving behind, in no man's land, the locals Vázquez & Reyes, who seem to be the only ones able to capitalise on any mistakes from the leaders.

At the finish line of the first stage, Kiko Vega and Santiago Scalesi, who just worked out their K2 for three days before the race, got an important win against Pinta-Mozzicafredo, while Balboa and Guerrero gave up during the final sprint to finish in third place. Almost more important than the 7 seconds difference was the fact that this was the first stage not won by Pinta and Mozzicafredo since 2008. A moral boost to Scalesi and Vega, who want to set it crystal clear that this year they have come for victory.

THE SECOND STAGE, between Neuquén and General Roca, followed approximately the same script, but the controversy appeared in the last section of stage, with a U-turn finish to sprint upstream. Pinta blamed Balboa for an unfair play at the turn, making them unable to face the sprint in a good position. The victory went to the U23 Balboa-Guerrero, with Vega-Scalesi in second position and getting another important 7 seconds over Pinta and Mozzicafredo, and allowing the Spanish-Argentinian couple to retain the leadership.

Regarding accusations by Pinta, Balboa declared that the current champion should not talk about a small detail in the final sprint when he spends the whole stage trapping Vega and Scalesi against trees and shallow banks. Given these statements, the next steps are expected burning hot, especially considering the small time difference between the top three K2s.

In K1, the absence this year of Dario Dal-Bo, current champion, Argentinian Pascual Orellana apparently claims favouritism after the first two stages. Comfortably placed in groups of K2s, he won both stages and lead by one minute and a half over Gastón Gaona, who is the only one that seems able to be on the lookout in case of any mistakes from the leader.

NOTE SPORTSCENE - There are only two or three women racing in this regatta. One lady in the K1 and one or two in the mixed K2. For this reason we are not reporting on their progress for which we apologise.

Event website: www.regatadelrionegro.com.ar/prensa.php

Results second stage (drag to your desktop for the larger version)