The Italy of speed canoeing lights up on the Maty-ér Regatta Course Szegedin Hungary, where the first day of the AI finals took place European championships in speed canoeing, paracanoeing and SUP. Two the gold medals conquered by the blue expedition: in the K2 1000m with Samuele Burgo and Andrea Schera Fiamme Gialle) and in C2 1000m thanks to Carlo Tacchini and Gabriele Casadei (Gold Flames).
What gives the first blue emotion is the K2 1000m by Samuele Burgo and Andrea Schera. A European title resulting from a test well managed tactically by the Italian crew, able to close with an explosive finish and cross the finish line with a time of 3:11.13 ahead of the Hungary of Bence Vajda and Tamas Szabo (3:11.68) and the France by Carre Cyrille and Hubert Etienne (3:13.48).
A few minutes later Italy returns to the top step of the podium with the gold medal of C2 1000m by Carlo Tacchini and Gabriele Casadei. The Italian couple, who will face the Paris Olympic Games in less than a month, having already won gold in the World Cup a few weeks ago, crossed the finish line with a time of 3:29.37, imposing themselves with more than two seconds of advantage over the German crew by Adam Mortiz and Nico Pickert (3:31.63) and on the Moldovan bronze by Oleg Tarnovschi and Mihai Chihaia (3:31.82).
Simone Bernocchi (CC Aniene) and Andrea Di Liberto (Fiamme Azzurre) came close to winning the medal in the K2 200m. The sprinters were fourth in the photo finish in 32.04, three tenths of a second away from bronze. European title around Spain’s neck with Iago Bebiano and Kevin Santos (31.58), able to prevail over Poland (31.89) and Hungary (32.01).
Today’s other finals saw Agata Fantini’s women’s K1 1000m finish in ninth position (4:09.42) and Mattia Alfonsi’s C1 200m finish in sixth position (39.71). Giacomo Cinti’s K1 500m finished third in the B final with a time of 1:39.57.
Race program
Saturday 15th, morning dedicated to the finals: we start with the paracanoe and then continue with 200m, 500m and 1000m of speed. In the afternoon there will be space for the final events of the technical SUP competitions and the inflatable category competitions.
Sunday 16th June, grand finale with the last five finals dedicated to paracanoeing, the remaining speed canoeing finals of 1000m, 500m and 200m and, in the last part of the races, the tests on the 5 kilometer distance.
