Germany’s Ricarda Funk (K1W) and the duo of Franz Anton and Jan Benzien (C2M) both cruised through in top position as the heats concluded in Pau on day one of the 2016 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup 3.

Since dipping out on selection for the German Olympic team early in the season Funk has continued to outscore her teammates and almost everyone else with gold in Ivrea and bronze last weekend in La Seu D’Urgell.

Today the talented 24-year-old continued that narrative with quickest time in the opening heat stopping-the-clock at 108.68, which included a two-second penalty for a touch midway down the course.

France’s Marie-Zelia Lafont and Australia’s Jessica Fox also both put in a score of 108 and followed Funk in that order.

Melanie Pfeifer, who bettered Funk to secure her place at the Rio Olympic Games, also comfortably moved through to the semifinal stage with a fourth place finish from her opening run.

In the C2 Men’s event Franz Anton and Jan Benzien were the quickest despite clipping gate four and incurring an early penalty.

The Czech Republic’s duos of Ondrej Karlovsky and Jakub Jane, plus Jonas Kaspar and Marek Sindler took second and third spots as the opening runs concluded.

All four French C2 Men’s duos qualified at the first attempt; as did the Olympic legends Pavol and Peter Hochschorner (SVK) who have struggled for early season form.

K1 Women Top Qualifiers 


1. Ricarda Funk (GER) (2) 108.68     0.00
2. Marie-Zelia Lafont (FRA)(2) 108.85 / +0.17      
3. Jessica Fox (AUS) (0) 108.87 /+0.19    

C2 Men Top Qualifiers

Franz Anton and Jan Benzien    (GER) (2) 112.24
Ondrej Karlovsky and Jakub Jane (CZE)     (0) 113.21 / +0.97     
Jonas Kaspar and Marek Sindler (CZE) (2) 113.40 / +1.16