The unpredictability of kayak cross was on display in Tacen, Slovenia as races delivered shocks, big collisions and an historic medal for Japan. 

France’s Mathurin Madore and Germany’s Andrea Herzog emerged victorious on a thrilling final day of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup. 

There were also gold medals for Great Britain’s Joseph Clarke and France’s Camille Prigent in the kayak cross individual time-trials. 

But arguably the story of the day came when Momoka Nagasu secured Japan’s first-ever medal in kayak cross. 

Competing in only her second World Cup of her career, the world number 117 stunned the field to make the final before finishing second behind Herzog. 

It summed up a day of shocks as some of the biggest names in kayak cross came unstuck on a challenging course. 

Olympic gold medallist Noemie Fox of Australia was faulted in the time-trials, while Czechia’s Tereza Kneblova, who is the leader in the overall standings in kayak cross, did not make it through the heats. 

Other in-form paddlers such as Prigent and Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods got knocked out in the semi-finals as Spain’s Maialen Chourraut and Herzog advanced. 

They came up against Nagasu and Great Britain’s Nikita Setchell in an intriguing final. 

While Setchell and Chourraut battled it out on the left gate, Herzog swept clear down the right and was followed by Nagasu. 

Herzog powered to victory as Nagasu claimed silver and Setchell overcame Chourraut to win bronze. 

“I didn’t expect to win today, not even to get into the final,” said a stunned Herzog.  

“I was really, really happy to be in the semi-finals so this is crazy.  

“I didn’t feel I had a good chance to win it going to the left up with (Setchell and Chourraut) going against each other so I tried to go on the right and the Japanese girl followed me.  

“It was a hard race to win but I did really well and then I was first, I don’t know how.” 

There were also surprises in the men’s kayak cross with reigning world champion Clarke failing to advance from the heats and overall kayak cross leader Jan Rohrer of Switzerland exiting in the quarter-finals. 

While others faltered, Madore seized his opportunity to win his first kayak cross crown of the season with an impressive performance. 

Slovenia’s Jan Locnikar, ranked world number 96 in kayak cross, sealed a shock silver in front of his home fans, while Canada’s Alex Baldoni also won his first World Cup medal with bronze as Great Britain’s Sam Leaver finished fourth. 

Earlier in the day, Clarke captured his first title since the birth of his second child after clocking a time of 50.35 in the kayak cross individual time-trials. 

Czechia’s Jakub Krejci was second with 51.25 to remain top of the overall leaderboard, while Leaver came third in 51.30. 

In the women’s kayak cross individual time-trials, Prigent struck gold again after crossing the line in 56.20. 

Slovenia’s Eva Alina Hocevar finished in 57.46 for silver, while Evy Leibfarth of the United States also collected another medal this weekend with bronze after clocking 57.50. 

Live coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen is available to watch for signed-up members of the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.

The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen is supported by I Feel Slovenia.

Germany’s Elena Lilik put her injury woe behind her to capture an emotional women’s canoe title at the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen, Slovenia. 

The Olympic silver medallist was forced to miss the opening two World Cups of the season after undergoing an operation on her wrist in January. 

But Lilik was back to her best, navigating a tricky Slovenian course to take the title on a thrilling day of racing. 

After Titouan Castryck’s victory in the men’s kayak yesterday, France celebrated more success today as Nicolas Gestin got the better of compatriot Yohann Senechault in a French one-two in the men’s C1. 

It is a second successive World Cup gold for reigning Olympic champion Gestin as he seeks to overhaul Senechault in the race for the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series crown in C1. 

With Australia’s Jessica Fox withdrawing from the final two World Cups in Tacen and Augsburg after having surgery on her kidney last week, the women’s C1 has been blown wide open. 

Lilik took her opportunity in Tacen, managing to hold herself together during a challenging opening section of the course before finishing superbly to set a time of 86.86. 

It proved to be enough for victory as Ukraine’s Viktoriia Us posted 87.78 to secure silver. 

“It means everything to me because I came back from surgery on my wrist,” said Lilik. 

“It was a hard time coming back so to now win a gold medal is crazy.  

“I couldn’t do training in the winter season, I couldn’t do it after the surgery so I had very compact preparations.  

“I am just a paddler who loves to feel the water. That’s what you need in Tacen.  

“I always like to paddle here.  

“I won a gold medal at the World Cup here in 2023 so it’s back-to-back.  

“You have those post-Olympic blues and then the injury so just being back feels amazing.” 

Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods backed up her gold medal in the women’s K1 yesterday to bag bronze in 88.19. 

It took a remarkable recovery from Woods to seal a spot on the podium as she smashed the nose of her boat against the wall before the first gate and received a two-second penalty after touching gate three.

 

There were no issues for Gestin in the men’s C1 final as he swept down the course to register a stunning time of 75.67. 

After topping a French one-two-three in Prague in June, Gestin emerged victorious again as Senechault clinched silver in 76.46. 

Czechia’s Vojtech Heger claimed his first World Cup medal in C1 with bronze after crossing in 78.70. 

“I’m really enjoying every run,” said Gestin.  

“I trained really well in July and August but to put a run like this together for the final is a good surprise to me.  

“I really tried to think about the top section because I feel like that is really important here.  

“You have got to use the water but I feel like your lines can be larger so I had to be focused on my vision and really watch every movement.  

“After having a bad run in Pau, I have come back (in the overall standings).  

“I still have a chance (to win the overall title) even if Yohann is really solid.  

“Top position is really tough to get but we will see in Augsburg.” 

Live coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen is available to watch for signed-up members of the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.

The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen is supported by I Feel Slovenia.

Great Britain’s Kimberley Woods’ long wait for a first victory in the women’s kayak finally came to an end with a superb showing on a rain-hit opening day of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen, Slovenia. 

Woods secured Olympic bronze in the K1 in Paris last year, but her success on the World Cup circuit had come in canoe and kayak cross. 

After eight years without a medal in K1 and no wins in that category, Woods finally emerged victorious at the Tacen Whitewater Centre. 

France’s Tituoan Castryck was also celebrating after maintaining his sensational form this season with another men’s K1 gold. 

The Olympic silver medallist has now won three out of the four World Cups in K1 to strengthen his grip on top spot in the overall standings. 

The Slovenian fans, who braved the heavy rain, also had reason to cheer as siblings Ziga Lin Hocevar and Eva Alina Hocevar claimed silver medals on home waters. 

Eva Alina Hocevar thrilled the spectators when she clocked 79.42 to move ahead of Evy Leibfarth of the United States who posted 82.45. 

But it was not enough to clinch the win as Woods overtook Hocevar at the top with a time of 78.69. 

Germany’s Ricarda Funk was the last to go after topping the heats but a two-second penalty cost her a medal as Hocevar took silver and Leibfarth earned bronze. 

“I heard Eva Alina’s time and thought I am going to really have to attack it,” said Woods. 

“It’s a nice short course where you can attack it.  

“I obviously won bronze in Paris last year.  

“I wanted to try to back it up at the back end of last year but I didn’t make any finals.  

“It’s been eight years since I have had a kayak medal at a World Cup so it’s a long time coming.  

“I have never won a kayak race before which is mad.  

“I have made quite a few finals but never been quite there.  

“To come and finally get my first senior win in kayak and do it out there with those girls in this weather I am really proud of myself.” 

There appears to be no stopping Castryck when he gets into his kayak at the moment. 

While his French rival Anatole Delassus in the race for the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Series crown failed to make the final, Castryck starred again. 

After wins in La Seu and Prague, Castryck came out on top again in Tacen with a time of 70.24 to continue his dominance. 

Ziga Lin Hocevar briefly moved into first place with 72.63 only to have to settle for silver after Castryck’s  brilliance. 

Poland’s Mateusz Polaczyk squeezed into the final after placing 12th but came out firing to secure bronze with 73.52. 

“It’s always quite stressful to come back after such a long period without racing, so I am happy that I’ve still got it,” said Castryck.  

“I don’t think it’s down to confidence.  

“I am not an overconfident person. I just try not to be overconfident or underconfident at the starting block. I just try to be present so there is no real secret.  

“I had good training this winter, I am feeling good and I am at a really good level right now.” 

Live coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen is available to watch for signed-up members of the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.

The ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup in Tacen is supported by I Feel Slovenia.