The 2021 ECA European Open Canoe Slalom Cup series kicked off this weekend with a race in La Seu d'Urgell. Olympic Champion Maialen Chourraut was unbeatable in women's K1 final, Luis Fernandez took the win in men's C1, Russian Pavel Eigel was the fastest in men's K1 and Andorran Monica Doria Vilarrubla finished first in women's C1.
The first race of the year 2021 in the ECA European Open Canoe Slalom Cup series was held on the 1992 Olympic venue in La Seu d'Urgell. The traditional Pyrenees Cup race did not only count for European Cup series, but was also African continental Olympic qualifier and ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking race. Athletes from Spain, Andorra, Ireland, Russia, Portugal, Sweden, Argentina, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritius, Senegal and Kenya took part in the competition.
The first favourite of women's kayak final did not disappoint. The 2016 Olympic Champion Maialen Chourraut produced a superb and fast run to secure herself a win at a course in La Seu d'Urgell. She was almost seven seconds faster than her closest rival Monica Doria Vilarrubla from Andorra. Olatz Arregui finished third in this event. Chourraut was the only female kayaker to compete the course without a penalty.
Luis Fernandez took the win in men's canoe final, finishing 0.03 seconds ahead of Miquel Trave, who picked up two penalty seconds on the course which pushed him to second position. Ireland's Jake Cochrane was third in this event.
Russian kayaker Pavel Eigel celebrated a win in men's kayak final. Mathis Soudi from Morocco was second, second and a half behind the Russian, and Spanish kayaker Manuel Ochoa was third.
Monica Doria Vilarrubla took her second medal of the day in women's canoe event. Despite the six penalty seconds she was the best in women's C1 final, finishing 1.39 seconds ahead of Ainhoa Lameiro and two seconds ahead of Miren Lazkano who was third.
The second ECA European Open Canoe Slalom Cup race will be held in Pau, France, on 27-28 March.
21.3.2021
