The 2019 ECA Wildwater Canoeing European Championships in Soča Valley, Slovenia, started with individual classic race. Slovenian kayakers recorded a double win in men’s event thanks to Simon Oven and Anže Urankar. Melanie Matyhs is the new European Champion in women’s kayak event, Emil Milihram was the fastest in men’s canoe race and Cecilia Panato won in women’s canoe event. Anežka Paloudova picked up two medals, she was third in women’s kayak and canoe races.
Slovenian kayaker Simon Oven was considered one of the main favourites for the win in the first race of the championships – individual classic event. As a reigning World Champion in classic from last year he expressed a goal to win a gold medal on Soča River prior to the championships. The pressure did not get to him and he produced a superb run, crossing the finish line eleven and half seconds faster than his opponents.
“In the upper part where the river is not so wild, I had a plan to ‘kill myself’, and to continue with more finesse in the more challenging part of the course. I almost lost too much energy in the upper part, but I suffered through the technical part of the course, and it worked out,” said Simon Oven.
Silver medal also stayed in Slovenia thanks to Anže Urankar, who is a sprint specialist and also 2017 Wildwater Sprint World Champion, while Adam Satke from Czech Republic won bronze medal.
In women’s classic race Melanie Mathys from Switzerland won the European Champion title. She was only 0.02 seconds faster than Italian paddler Mathilde Rosa. Anežka Paloudova from Czech Republic was third. World Champion Martina Satkova was very fast on the course and was in a firm lead until the big mistake which resulted in the capsize, so she lost a lot of time there and the chances for medal were gone.
Croatian canoeist Emil Milihram, multiple World Champion in classic race, produced the best time in men’s C1 race. Ondrej Rolenc from Czech Republic was 7.20 seconds behind to win a silver medal, while Slovenian canoeist Blaž Cof won bronze medal.
Italian team celebrated the European Champion title in women’s canoe event. Cecilia Panato, daughter of wildwater canoeing legend Vladi Panato, stopped the clock 15 seconds faster than Czech paddler Martina Satkova. Anežka Paloudova won her second bronze medal of the day in this event.
Unfortunately the men’s C2 race was not official one, because there were not enough nations on the start line. The Spanish duo could not start in C2 race because of the injury Spanish paddler suffered in kayak race. Competitors in this event started, but will not be awarded official European Championships medals. Daniel Suchanek – Ondrej Rolenc (CZE) finished the race in front of two French crews Stephane Santamaria – Quentin Dazeur and Tony Debray – Louis Lapointe.
On Thursday European Championships will continue with Team Classic Races.
Livestreaming is available on www.youtube.com/CanoeEurope
Results:
www.timing-mojstrana.com
15.5.2019
