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The final canoe slalom World Cup race of the season 2023 served also as the pre-Olympic test event on the new venue which is set to host next year’s canoe slalom Olympic competitions. European paddlers performed well in front of the loud French fans, winning majority of the medals of the weekend.

 

The home crowd was ecstatic after the men’s kayak final, where 19-year-old Titouan Castryck won his first World Cup gold medal and second world cup medal in season 2023 (he was third in kayak cross in Prague). The future of canoe slalom produced 2.58 seconds faster time than his closest rivals Vit Prindis (CZE) and Jonny Dickson (GBR) who shared second place with equal time.

 

“It was amazing, there was a lot of cheering on the side of the course, and I knew I could be good here and I got the run I was hoping for, so I’m really happy. I think I was really solid during the early season in the heats and semis, but in the finals run I was always struggling to find my paddling. London was really hard and I wasn’t really confident after it, so I’m really happy to bounce back. I don’t know how it will be next year, but if I am in the Olympic team it will be a big confidence boost,” said Castryck.

 

It was an emotional weekend for Italian Raffaello Ivaldi, who was very disappointed after World Championships, but returned to competition with a World Cup win in men’s canoe final. There, German Franz Anton took silver medal and Miquel Trave from Spain bronze medal.

 

“The worlds were really bad, it was a really hard time for me, but the support around me was amazing – my dad, my mum, my grandma, my brother, my family and friends – the support was amazing. They helped me so much to get back, and now I’m back on the top, it feels amazing. I felt the energy today, I felt confident, I went all in so I’m happy. I am happy after the worlds I didn’t end with my mind, I cam back in a good shape,” said Ivaldi.

 

Australian Jessica Fox was the winner of both women’s kayak and canoe finals. In kayak, Austrian Corinna Kuhnle won silver medal, while Polish paddler Klaudia Zwolinska finished third. In women’s canoe final, Czech Gabriela Satkova picked up silver medal, and reigning world champion Mallory Franklin (GBR) won bronze medal.

 

On the last competition day, home crowd once more celebrated a win, thanks to Boris Neveu (FRA) who was the best in men’s kayak cross final, where Finn Butcher (NZL) and Felix Oschmautz (AUT) joined him on the winner’s podium. In women’s final the gold medal went to New Zealand with Luuka Jones, Kimberley Woods (GBR) was second and Jessica Fox (AUS) third.

 

“Today the crowd was just crazy, and they pushed me on each run. It was my last chance of the season, and I didn’t miss it, so it’s a perfect day finally because to win at home it is quite special and it’s very good for me,” said Neveu.

 

European canoe slalom paddlers were also among the best in the overall standings of the 2023 World Cup series. Czech kayaker Vit Prindis became an overall World Cup winner for the third time (2017, 2021, 2023) with a total of 304 points. Italian paddler Giovanni De Gennaro ended the season with 271 points in second place, while Czech Jiri Prskavec finished third (252 points).

 

Slovenian canoeist Luka Bozic, who lost his overall win last year in the last race of the season, managed to secure a tight win this year and lifted a trophy after the won two more points (270 points) than Slovak Matej Benus (268 points). Italian Raffaello Ivaldi (257 points) was third.

 

In women’s competition Australian Jessica Fox took the win both in kayak and canoe. In kayak she collected 308 points for a secure overall win. German representative Elena Lilik was second (277 points) and Polish kayaker Klaudia Zwolinska third (262 points). In canoe Fox ended the season with 334 points, British paddler Kimberley Woods had 222 points, while Ukrainian Viktoriia Us collected 217 points which brought her third position in the overall standings.

 

Kimberley Woods was the best in women’s kayak cross standings, taking the win with 229 points, Luuka Jones from New Zealand was second (204 points) and Jessica Fox third (194 points). Great Britain celebrated an overall win also in men’s kayak cross, thanks to triple world champion in this discipline Joseph Clarke (189 points), French kayaker Boris Neveu was second (171 points), and Timothy Anderson from Australia third (161 points).