First rowing medallists at World Cup
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Email this article Italian lightweights medalled in all three lightweight finals on day two at the Rowing World Cup in Banyoles, Spain.
Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – A Final
These six crews were formed from yesterday’s heat and today’s repechage. Would those who had already raced today suffer in this final? Olympic finalist from the double, Alexandra Tsiavou of Greece shot out to an opening lead. Tsiavou had qualified for today’s final directly from the heat and was being chased by fellow direct qualifier, Jo Hammond of Belgium. The leading duo held a 30 stroke rate pace and at the half-way point still had position one and two in their grasp.
As the final 500m came into view, Tsiavou and Hammond remained comfortably in the gold and silver spots with Italy (Laura Milani) and Croatia (Mirna Rajle Brodanac) left to battle it out for the bronze. But all was about to change.
Tsiavou, rating 33, began to move away from Hammond. Brodanac and Milani, who had both raced this morning, were challenging with all of their might. Brodanac was rating 39 and Milani 37. What would Hammond do? Hammond had no sprint left in her. At the line Tsiavou had hung on to first. Brodanac takes second and Milani earns bronze.
Results: GRE, CRO, ITA, BEL, SWE, DEN
Alexandra Tsiavou (GRE) – Gold
"I’m starting the season in the single. The weather was bad, with wind blowing only from one side. It was really hard work. Not only did I have to give my best but also take care on the direction."
Mirna Rajle Brodanac (CRO) – Silver
World Rowing: “What a finish!”
Brodanac: “As always! Laura told me she was waiting for my finish.”
World Rowing: “This is your second race today.”
Brodanac: “It was hard, hot, there was a little more wind, but it was great.”
Laura Milani (ITA) – Bronze
“I was surprised. It was my first Final in the single. I thought I was third or fourth. I am really happy.”
Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x) – A Final
There was every indication that this final would be hotly contested following the semi-finals that were raced earlier today. All six athletes returned to the waters of Estany Lake, Banyoles for their second race and, this time, a medal winning chance.
Denmark’s Olympic medallist from the double, Mads Rasmussen shot out in front at the start holding a slight edge over Greece’s Olympic medallist from the double, Vasileios Polymeros. But it was Italy’s Lorenzo Bertini who managed to move into the lead with half of the race rowed. Bertini, 33, has been racing internationally since 1993 and in that time he has moved between the double, coxless four and eight with stints in the single, and even the open double, along the way. Polymeros reacted back and overtook Bertini with 500m left to race.
Meanwhile Rasmussen had begun to fade giving Great Britain’s Adam Freeman-Pask a chance at the medals. In the final sprint Polymeros showed his sculling skill by moving clear of the pack and into a comfortable gold medal spot. Bertini held on for silver and Freeman-Pask sprinted through to bronze.
Results: GRE, ITA2, GBR, DEN, NED, FRA2
Vasileios Polymeros (GRE) – Gold
"I was not that good in the single but am making experiments and felt good in the race. We’ll see what the coach will decide after this race regarding the Mediterranean Games.”
Lorenzo Bertini (ITA2) – Silver
“The single is a preparation method. I hope to go back into the lightweight men’s four.”
Adam Freeman-Pask (GBR) – Bronze
“It was pretty scary with all these big names. At the end really felt well. It was a really good learning weekend.”
Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-) - A FinalItaly continued to show their lightweight strength in the last race of the day. Former world champions Andrea Caianiello and Armando Dell’Aquila of Italy won their heat yesterday earning them a centre lane today. The duo left nothing to chance taking off at a cracking pace in the lead and ‘settling’ to a high 37 stroke rate. Was this sustainable?
Behind Italy France’s Fabien Tilliet and Jean-Christophe Bette were rating a pip or two lover and remaining in an overlapping position. Meanwhile the Netherlands Vincent and Tycho Muda, who had come through to the final from this morning’s repechage, had overtaken the Serbians and were moving up on France.
Coming into the final sprint the Netherlands were ignoring the fact that they had already raced today and were closing on France. Tilliet and Bette held on. Caianiello and Dell’Aquila continued on their high rating ways. The Muda’s had run out of lake. Italy earn another medal. France takes silver and the Netherlands get bronze.
Results: ITA, FRA1, NED1, SRB, FRA2, DEN
Andrea Cajaniello (ITA) – Gold
“The French and the Dutch crews were very stong and it was hard work from the first to the last stroke. It felt to me like the final of a World Championship!”
Jean-Christophe Bette (FRA) – Silver
“We are a little disappointed about the technical aspects but it was already better than in the heats. We surely have room for progression.”
Vincent Muda (NED) – Bronze
“We thought we could come back in the last 1,000m as we were closing the gap with the French and we gave everything. The last strokes really hurt!”
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