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Ljubljana – Tacen, one of the traditional canoe slalom venues which hosted many major international competitions has welcomed around 150 athletes from eleven countries at the ECA European Open Canoe Slalom Cup. The race serves as selection race for Slovenian team, so there is much pressure on the athletes, except for Benjamin Savšek, Peter Kauzer and Eva Terčelj, who are prequalified to the national team thanks to their last year’s medals at Olympic Games (Savšek) and European Championships (Kauzer and Terčelj).

 

Benjamin Savšek (SLO) was again out of the league, winning men’s C1 heats despite two penalty seconds. Tokyo Olympic Champion was at the end more than four seconds faster than his teammate from Slovenian team Luka Božič, who also had a touch, while young Juš Javornik finished third.

 

Ricarda Funk (GER), Tokyo Olympic Champion and reigning World Champion, also had a good day on the Sava River. She finished the first heats run 0.70 seconds ahead of 2019 World Champion and last year’s European Championships silver medallist Eva Terčelj (SLO). Italian representative Stefanie Horn was third.

 

Reigning women’s C1 champion Elena Lilik (GER) was speeding down the course to take the confident win in women’s C1 heats. Although she picked up four penalty seconds, she still lead more than three and a half seconds ahead of second positioned Brazilian Ana Satila. Slovenian Alja Kozorog was third.

 

In men’s kayak multiple World and European Champion Peter Kauzer (SLO) finished the day at the top of the scoreboard. He was not the fastest on the course today, as another Slovenian Martin Srabotnik produced the fastest run, but two penalty seconds pushed him to third position at the end. In between was Giovanni de Gennaro (ITA), who was second with a clear run, only 0.24 seconds behind Kauzer.

 

On Sunday the competition continues with semifinal and final, as well as extreme slalom race.