ICF Slalom World Cup 2: C1 Men, K1 Women Finals (Report and Video)
ICF Slalom World Cup 2: Krakow (Poland)
Australia’s Jessica Fox has continued her rampaging start to the 2018 ICF Canoe Slalom season with another World Cup gold medal on Saturday, while Great Britain’s three-time Olympic silver medallist David Florence celebrated a long overdue return to the top of the podium in the men’s C1.
Fox won both C1 and K1 gold on the opening weekend of the World Cup season, and then followed up with K1 gold in Krakow, Poland, on Saturday.
But the closest racing came in the men’s C1, with less than one second separating the top six competitors.
Florence, who was also fastest in the semi-final, posted 83.86 seconds in the final to just edge out Slovakia’s Alexander Slafkovsky, with Czech Michal Jane taking the bronze medal.
“It couldn’t have been any better to be honest,” Florence said.
“We had the European Championships not that long ago, and I won the semi-final and then I just didn’t put in a good run. It’s so disappointing to feel like you’re going alright, and to put in good races in qualifying or semis, but not to do it when it really counts.
“Today, especially going off last, to put in another really good run, and fortunately good enough for the win as well, I’m so happy, I’m really pleased with that.”
Watch David Florence Winning Run
There were three British paddlers in the men’s final, but two of the biggest names in the sport missed out. France’s Olympic gold medallist, Denis Gargaud-Chanut picked up a 50-second penalty for a missed gate and finished 28th, while Germany’s Sideris Tasiadis, a winner at last week’s World Cup, finished 19th in the semi.
Jess Fox had allowed her competitors a glimmer of hope when she was only able to qualify 17th fastest for the K1 semi-finals, but then put in a sizzling run to qualify second fastest for the final.
She finished the final in 91.51, 0.89 seconds ahead of surprise silver medallist, Lucie Baudu of France, with Italy’s Stefanie Horn finishing third.
“It’s such a difficult course, and quite hard on the arms,” Fox said.
“I didn’t go as fast as my semi-final, but I was clean and tidy, with no major mistakes and a sprint to the finish. I’m so thrilled to win again. I can’t believe it.”
Watch Jessica Fox’s winning Run
Germany’s Ricarda Funk had a rare appearance outside the top three. Although she was easily the quickest paddler on the course in the K1 final, Funk picked up four seconds in penalties to leave her 2.41 seconds behind Fox in fifth place.
In the mixed C2, the Czech Republic’s Tereza Fiserova and Jakub Jane showed the rest of the field a clean pair of heels, finishing six seconds ahead of last week’s gold medallists, Slovakia’s Sona Stanovska and Jan Batik.
Poland’s Aleksandra Stach and Marcin Pochwala provided a thrill for the home crowd, taking bronze.
Saturday’s results mean Fox is a clear leader in the overall K1 World Cup standings. while Slafkovsky leads the men’s C1 after consecutive silver medals. Stanovska and Batik lead the mixed C2 after their gold and silver medals.
RESULTS
MEN’S C1
- FLORENCE David (GBR) 83.86
- SLAFKOVSKY Alexander (SVK) 84.13
- JANE Michal (CZE) 84.42
WOMEN’S K1
- FOX Jessica (AUS) 91.51
- BAUDU Lucie (FRA) 92.40
- HORN Stefanie (ITA) 92.43
MIXED C2
- FISEROVA/JANE (CZE) 105.92
- STANOVSKA/BATIK (SVK) 111.92
- STACH/POCHWALA (POL) 114.59
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