Mike Dawson in action at the Riverside Cross.

Sportscene | John Gregory | @gregiej – The Czech team again took full advantage of their home race to secure 6 golds with wins in C1M, C1W, K1M as well as C1M, C1W & K1W teams. Why do we all love Prague so much? Well for one the World Cup has become a week long Paddlefest, with the Paddleride and Riverside Cross on the Vlatva river in the majestic old city in addition to the World Cup race in Troja.

Here is a short round-up of some key highlights from World Cup 1 as well as a preview of World Cup 2 in Krakow which gets underway immediately this week.

Prague World Cup 1 review
This was an usual course for the final with 25 gates, which were very tightly configured and relentless. The race percentages below reflect the compactness of the course.

In C1M, it was wonderful to welcome back Stanislav Jezek (CZE) and Sideris Tasiadis (GER) back on to the World Cup circuit, They both stamped their authority with gold and 4th respectively. He had been the overall World Cup series champion in both 1999 and 2011. Jezek was also the principle race organiser, so a double congratulations.

In C1W, Katerina Hoskova, 2011 World Champion finally achieved her first World Cup race win. The Austrian team placed three boats in the final, with the race also acting as Austrian selection for Worlds.

In K1M, we had the unusual spectacle of a final without any members of the German team. That hasn’t happened in any senior race in many years. Isak Ohrstrom (SWE) made his first World Cup final while heat winner Michael Dawson (NZL) fell victim to the 50-second penalties so common in Troja. However, he took away top honours in the Riverside Cross. “I just love paddling here in Prague, such a cool place, such a cool people. Sometimes we cut the line tight and do mistakes. But I’m happy and we’ll see how it goes in the final”, he said.

The final was not without upset. The fastest and only clear run was Great Britain’s Joe Clarke who as the last paddler finished appeared to have taken his first World Cup race win. It immediately transpired that his boat was fractionally under the required 8kg and he was promptly disqualified. Nevertheless, Clarke should take solace in the fact that he has sent a clear signal to the paddler World that he is capable of a win. As Nouria Newman (FRA) commented he should also be thankful it was not at his home Worlds or in Rio. Nevertheless afterwards Clarke reflected; “It was great to put together such a good run in the final. It's been building over the last few seasons and finally it came together on the day. It was a great experience and a stepping stone to bigger things I hope.”

In K1W Ricarda Funk (GER) could not quite repeat her lead from the semi and finished an agonising fourth. Her team-mate Jasmin Schornberg (GER) put together a polished fluid run when it mattered to take her first World Cup win in more than 2 years. “I won here five years ago and I really love the course, so I’m really happy it was such a good run. I think most important was staying clean because it was so close. It worked so I’m happy”, said Schornberg.

Pre-race Stepanka Hilgertova (CZE) had shared her desire to make yet another final 20 years on. She was composed and nimble comfortably securing her place in the final and finishing 6th overall, despite having had the extra spice of heat 2. Reigning Olympic Champion Emilie Fer (FRA) had won the 2013 Worlds on this Troja course in 2013, however, ducked too tight on the upstream gate of 16 and found herself with a 50 second penalty.

In the C2 final Klauss & Peche (FRA) demonstrated why they are ICF World No. 1 with a masterful 98.60 clear run. “I would say it was pretty hard. We were fast but it was big fight between us and two Czech canoes. Luckily for us they touched and we are happy to win first race in this season. We also like ricing here because it’s nice city and really good course and Czech guys are good friends of us. It’s always pleasure to come here”, they said. It was an all European final with three Czech boats. The course emphasized the different approached for the back left or back right crews. There were no Brits in the final although Proctor & Stott were the top ranked GB crew at their first World Cup race.

Race percentages

Medal table based on individual classes and teams

You can download all results here: www.sportscene.tv/whitewater/canoe-slalom/result-archive

Krakow World Cup 2 preview

We are pleased to have Krakow on the 2015 World Cup series. The seniors were last racing on the Vistula river Krakow-Kolna canoe slalom course for the 2013 ECA European Championships, where the winners were; Jan Benzien (GER), Caroline Loir (FRA), Jiri Prskavec (CZE), Fiona Pennie (GBR) & Labarelle & Peschier (FRA).

In C1M, competition is hot with former World Cup champions Stanislav Jezek (CZE), David Florence (GBR), Matej Benus (SVK), Alexander Slafkovsky (SVK) and Sideris Tasiadis (GER).

In C1W, World Championship silver medallist, Mallory Franklin (GBR) and 2015 European Champion Kimberley Woods (GBR) join the World Cup series. Kimberley Woods said; “My hope is to be as consistent as I can so I am able to put those quick runs in consistently every time I go down the course whether that’s in training or racing. This year’s international season has already started off really great and I would want to continue the form I am in forward into the rest of the World Cups leading up to the Senior World Championships in Lee Valley in September.”

K1M, expect the German men come back with a vengeance. Canada’s Ben Hayward told Sportscene “I'm really excited for the upcoming race series and to try and build on last year's performances. My van is fully decked out thanks to my vanstarter supporters and I now have the luxury of sleeping in my own bed during the race series. I also can't wait for Pan Am Games when I get the chance to race in front of my first big home crowd.”

K1W, World silver medallist Fiona Pennie (GBR) joins the team for Krakow where as noted she won the 2013 European Championship.

In C2, expect the Polish crews to be strong on their home course. The Hochschorners (SVK) are racing but up against stiff competition from their Slovakian team-mates Skantar cousins and Kucera & Batik.

Krakow Race Schedule:

• Friday June 26 - Heats C1M, C1W, K1M, K1W & C2M
• Saturday June 27 – Semi-final & final C1M, C1W, K1M plus team race
• Sunday June 28 – Semi-final & final K1W & C2M plus teams

Race season:

• World Cup 2 – Krakow, Poland June 26-28
• World Cup 3 – Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia July 3-5
• Pan American Games – Minden, Ontario, Canada July 17-19
• World Cup 4 – Seu d’Urgell, Spain August 7-9
• World Cup Final – Pau, France August 14-16
• Senior World Championships – Lee Valley, London, UK September 16-20

Here is the link to the Krakow World Cup page http://krakow.worldcup.events.slalom.canoeicf.com/home. Live results via www.sportscene.tv/liveresults I will be providing live race tweets through the World Cup races using #ICFslalom all season. Follow me @gregiej.

Photo credits: Jan Homolka & Jochen Meyer