Leaders of the 2021 World Rowing Cup series established on Jarun Lake

With warm temperatures and a very slight wind, the finals of the first World Rowing Cup of the 2021 series got underway on Zagreb’s Jarun Lake a day earlier than originally scheduled due to the forecast of high winds and strong gusts.

Lightweight women’s single sculls (LW1x) – Final

 Sofia Meakin of Switzerland established an early lead ahead of Lara Tiefenthaler of Austria and, by 1,000m, had a couple of lengths of clear water, with Katrin Thoma of Germany having moved into second place. Unfortunately, Switzerland’s second sculler Eline Rol needed to be rescued following a capsize midway through the race. Meanwhile, in the third quarter of the race, whilst Meakin continued to dominate, there was a fight for the silver medal between Thoma and Tiefenthaler. The top three look set in the final stages with the battle for silver forcing the two scullers to close the gap to Sofia Meakin. However, Meakin remained in control to cross the line and take the first gold medal of the 2021 World Rowing Cup Series.

Results: SUI1, GER1, AUT, NED, GER2

 Sofia Meakin, Switzerland 1, Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls, Gold :

“I am very happy with the result, especially after the European Championships in Varese which didn’t go so well. I had a great start which give me the confidence to keep going. I was ready to react to any push.” 

Katrin Thoma, Germany, Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls, Silver :

“I am very happy to be here, thanks to my Federation for nominating me. It’s been tough with doing the repechage as well. But happy with my position today, it’s my first World Cup medal! I also just want to say it’s a great course and the event was well organised.”

Lara Tiefenthaler, Austria, Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls, Bronze :

“This is a fun first race. I didn’t expect to be in the medal range. I am really happy and grateful to all those around me. I am thankful to my coach who couldn’t be here.”

Lightweight men’s single sculls (LM1x) – Final

 Hungary’s Peter Galambos was fastest out of the blocks, closely followed by Joachim Agne of Germany. A slight tail wind assisted the lead scullers with posting very fast times in the first quarter of the race where Agne was maintaining contact with Galambos and there was a great race ensuing for the third medal. Peter Zelinka of Slovakia was sitting in third, but really feeling the pressure from the remaining three scullers behind. Galambos started to move away in the third quarter of the race and Zelinka was starting to challenge for silver medal position, taking his rating up to 43 strokes per minute in the final stages of the race. Despite a bold attempt by Zelinka, Agne held on to second position, with Galambos taking the gold.

Results: HUN1, GER, SVK, BUL, TUR, HUN2

 Joachim Ange, Germany, Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls, Silver :

“I found it tough when I reached 1000m, I wasn’t able push my position any further. I’m still pretty happy with my medal and found it really nice in Zagreb.”

Peter Zelinka, Slovakia, Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls, Bronze :

“Slight tailwind for me in the race. For me it was all about keeping up with the others. At 1000m I made another push to try and close the gap, but it wasn’t possible to make an overtake.”

 Women’s pair (W2-) – Final

With just three entries, it was all to play for in the women’s pair and it was the Croatian Jurkovic twins, Ivana and Josipa, who took the early lead with a fight for silver between France and the young Czech Republic duo. The locals in the surrounding parks were very pleased to see the Croatian pair leading the charge to the line, with the Czech Republic holding a comfortable second place, and France taking third.

Results: CRO, CZE, FRA

 Josipa Jurkovic (s), Women’s Pair, Croatia, Gold :

“This means a lot, we’ve raced for 11 years so to represent our country and win today is great. And to stand here side by side in this position feels amazing.”

Anna Santruckova (b), Women’s Pair, Czech Republic , Silver :

“We had a really bad start, we went straight into the buoys and we couldn’t really get back into it. It was better after the first 500m”

Emma Cornelis (s), Women’s Pair, France, Bronze :

We’re still discovering the Women’s Pair, it’s our first competition in this boat. We decided to give it all and see where we were. We missed a bit of juice at the end.”

 Men’s pair (M2-) – Final

The French Turlan twins were the fastest out of the start, but home favourites Martin and Valent Sinkovic very quickly moved into the lead. In the second quarter of the race, Croatia and France were matching boat speeds, with Spain in third place and Belarus just dropping back in fourth position. After the 1,000m marker, the motivation of the Croatian’s was really showing as they extended their lead over France. The Spanish were sticking with the French into the final quarter of the race with Spain up at 41 strokes per minute and the Turlan twins desperately trying to hold them off. The Sinkovic brothers continued to dominate on their home water with France successfully holding off Spain.

Results: CRO1, FRA, ESP, BLR, SLO, TUR

 Valent Sinkovic, Men’s Pair, Croatia, Gold :

“Amazing race. It was beautiful because we thought about this race for a while and it went perfectly from start to finish, the ending was especially great!”

Thibault Turlan, Men’s Pair, France, Silver :

“We knew the Sinkovic brothers would be in front of everybody really fast, and it was going to be a race with Spain and Belarus. We are really happy to have moved past Spain and to get this silver medal.

Women’s double sculls (W2x) – Final

The Lithuanian double of Milda Valciukaite and Donata Karaliene were bronze medallists at the 2016 Olympic Games so came to this race as favourites and indeed took the early lead ahead of France. By 1,000m, there was over a length of clear water between Lithuania and France and then another significant gap back to Hungary. It was an impressive display of sculling from Lithuania as they continued to dominate the race with the other two places unchanged.

Results: LTU, FRA, HUN

 Donata Karaliene. Women’s Double Sculls, Lithuania, Gold :

“We’re very satisfied, this event has been good experience. Great to have at least races against Hungary and France today.”

Ezter Kremer, Women’s Double Sculls, Hungray, Bronze :

“This is a new combo, we’ve been only training together for five weeks. It was just a test. We have a lot to improve.

Men’s double sculls (M2x) – Final

As one of the largest boat classes of the event, racing in the men’s double had been fierce with the crews having raced in semifinals earlier in the day. The favourites from France were momentarily led by the Czech Republic, but by the 500m timing point, reigning European Champions Hugo Boucheron and Matthieu Androdias of France had moved into the prime position. Switzerland and Poland moved into second and third places respectively in the second quarter of the race with Poland sneaking ahead by the halfway marker. As Poland and Switzerland continued to fight for the silver medal, they were keeping the pressure on France. The stunning technique of the French double kept them ahead to the line with Poland holding off Switzerland.

Results: FRA, POL, SUI1, GER1, CZE, NED

 Matthieu Androdias, France, Men’s Double Sculls, Gold :

“We’re really happy to be competing at this level. WE know there were other fast boats here so we’re really happy to come away with gold.”

Mateusz Biskup, Poland, Men’s Double Sculls, Silver :

“Tough race, France were crazy fast in the last quarter. We tried to push as much as possible and keep ahead of Switzerland, but we’re happy with this race for us. We’ll look to build now onto Tokyo.”

Barnabe Delarze, Switzerland, Men’s Double Sculls, Bronze :

“We know this would be a hard race. We’ve been able to put in place some big changes and tried them in racing. We’re on a good path moving forward. ”

 Men’s four (M4-) – Final

 The preliminary race had suggested that we should expect a great final, and the crews did not disappoint. With France taking the early lead, Poland and Croatia maintained pressure on them. With France and Poland at 41 strokes per minute in the second quarter of the race, Poland were trying to close the gap on France. Meanwhile, Croatia was subsequently closing the gap on Poland with less than half a second separating them at the 1,500m marker. Poland managed to hold off the Croatian charge and took the silver medal behind France.

Results: FRA, POL, CRO, SUI1, SUI2, CZE

 Benoit Brunet, France, Men’s Four, Gold :

“We’re 15 days away from the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta. We’re on plan. We just have to qualify now.”

Marcin Brzezinski, Poland, Men’s Four, Silver :

“Overall it was a good race. FRA and CRO aren’t qualified yet so I think they are different shape to us currently. So for us it’s a good first step for a World Cup but still preparing for Tokyo. I think our lungs are ready but our legs still need a bit of work!”

Ivan Piton, Croatia, Men’s Four, Bronze :

“Great race today. France had a really quick start, they’re a class crew though. But I’m really super happy with today.”

 Lightweight men’s double sculls (LM2x) – Final

 European silver medallists Germany established the early lead with an incredibly punchy start with France2 and Switzerland2 exchanging places for silver medal position. By 1,000m, Switzerland1 had moved into third place. It was a fascinating battle between the two Swiss doubles with the Struzina brothers racing against each other. However, in the final stages of the race, a huge charge from Austria knocked the younger Swiss double off the podium.

Results: GER, SUI1, AUT, SUI2, FRA2, FRA1

 Jonathan Rommelmann, Germany, Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Gold :

“All the other boats are preparing for the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, so they’re at the top of their form. So to come out ahead and win here means a lot to us.”

Andri Struzina, Switzerland, Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Silver :

“We were expecting the Germans to be really fast. And our goal was to not lose too much in the first 500m. OUr plan was to catch them in the middle 1000m. We found a good rhythm and it was a good race after that.”

Paul Sieber, Austria, Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Bronze :

“Really satisfied with the whole weekend. We were disappointed not to qualify in Varese so to push through today was great. The past weeks we’ve continued to improve. We’ll see the Swiss in three weeks time and hope to stick closer to them then!”

 Lightweight women’s double sculls (LW2x) – Final

 With four boats fighting for three medals, it was all to play for. France had a great start, ahead of Turkey. The French double, stroked by Claire Bove, who won bronze in the lightweight women’s single at the recent European Rowing Championships, continued to move away despite a valiant performance from Turkey. Approaching the halfway marker, Belarus had moved into second place, but France had really moved away and continued to extend their lead to absolutely dominate the race.

Results: FRA, BLR, TUR, CZE

 Claire Bove, France, Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls, Gold :

“It’s a super course a pleasure to be here. It’s a great feeling as a it’s been a long time since we raced together. We can’t wait for Lucerne now.”

Women’s quadruple sculls (W4x) – Final

Three crews fought for places in this boat class with Germany leading France at the 500m marker and Switzerland holding third place. The German quad continued to move away, opening up clear water ahead of France in the second quarter of the race, but in the third quarter, an impressive scull from the French gave them overlap again with Germany. Switzerland was still maintaining contact with a valiant performance. In the final stages of the race, France really put the pressure on, taking the rating up to 40 strokes per minute. Germany just managed to hold on to gold medal position.

Results: GER, FRA, SUI

 Carlotta Nwajide, Germany, Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Gold :

“This victory means a lot. It always mean a lot to get a victory at a World Rowing event. I think what sets us apart is that we never stop pushing, no matter what the result is. We never stop believing. Our ultimate goal is the Olympic games and we are still working towards that.”

Marie Jacquet, France, Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Silver :

“Good race but could have been better. We’re excited about the progress ahead of us, and a chance to be even better next time.”

 Men’s quadruple sculls (M4x) – Final

Poland led out of the start with Estonia also moving smoothly. Poland crossed the first timing point in the lead but Estonia were matching their boat speed and, by 1,000m, Estonia were really starting to close the gap. Into the third quarter, Estonia took the lead, but was then trading places with Poland. Meanwhile, the United States crew had moved ahead of Germany in bronze medal position. With an incredible rhythm, Estonia held on to the lead to the line, ahead of Poland and it was a photo finish for third place with Germany eventually being confirmed as bronze medallists.

Results: EST, POL, GER, USA, CZE, NOR

 Dominik Czaja, Poland, Silver, Men’s Quadruple Sculls

“I think it was a good race but surely a hard one. Last weekend we had the flu so I wasn’t sure if would race. But this is a good start.”

Tim Ole Naske, Germany, Bronze, Men’s Quadruple Sculls :

“I think that was the closest ever finish in my rowing career. But really loved this regatta course, been brilliant so far. We’ll race again Lucerne but I’m not sure on the positions in the boat yet.”

Women’s single sculls (W1x) – Final

 As fastest qualifier from the heats, Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig made an impressive start establishing half a length over Jovana Arsic of Serbia in the first quarter of the race. In the third quarter of the race, a sprint from Kristyna Fleissnerova of the Czech Republic started to put Arsic under pressure. Lobnig took the gold medal by a decent margin, and Fleissnerova got the better of Arsic to take silver.

Results: AUT, CZE, SRB, SWE, SUI, SLO

 Magdalena Lobnig, Austria, Gold, Women’s Single sculls :

“This is a huge relief after my time at the European Championships. I’m happy to have found power here and be able to be competitive.”

Kristyna Fleissnerova, Czech Republic, Silver, Women’s Single Sculls :

“I’m very surprised. I was racing in the double but my partner was injured. So on Friday I started rowing in the single. So very happy and surprised !”

Jovana Arsic, Serbia, Bronze, Women’s Single Sculls : 

“The race was good. But I’ll now prepare for Lucerne and Tokyo.”

 Men’s single sculls (M1x) – Final

 Germany’s Oliver Zeidler absolutely destroyed the field in the first quarter of the race, but he was surrounded by strong opposition including Kjetil Borch of Norway and Damir Martin of Croatia. It was a very relaxed scull from Zeidler, rating lower than many of his opponents and with 500m to go, he was in a dominant position. In the closing stages, Zeidler was flying out ahead, with the remaining medals also looking pretty set with Borch in second and Martin in third.

Results: GER, NOR, CRO1, LTU1, CZE, TUR