The scorching heat in Pau was no problem for the Germans as Noah Hegge and Ricarda Funk grabbed the kayak gold medals in style at the second International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup of the year.
Hegge was the standout performer of the day after finishing fastest in the heats in 91.02 before another clean run in 91.48 secured the gold medal.
It was the first senior individual slalom medal for the Paris 2024 kayak cross bronze medallist, but the 26-year-old has won K1 team titles at the European and World Championships before.
Click here for results from Pau
Frenchman Anatole Delassus continued his form from La Seu d'Urgell, adding another K1 silver, finishing 1.22 behind Hegge.
Among those extending their streak was Lucien Delfour of Australia. Last week in Spain, he ended a five-year wait for a medal with a K1 bronze and repeated the feat in Pau.
View this post on Instagram
Home favourite Titouan Castryck missed out by 0.13 with two gate touches that cost him, while Italian Olympic champion Giovanni De Gennaro finished seventh in 95.39.
It was another day to forget for Czechia's Jiri Prskavec, who did not make it to the final 12 while Paris 2024 bronze medallist Pau Echaniz finished 18th.
Funk showed her class with two error-free runs to clinch the women's K1 title in France.
The defending European champion was second fastest in the heats in 105.02 but bettered that by almost three seconds in the final, clocking 102.00.
In a day of firsts, the home fans rejoiced as Eva Pietracha stood on the podium in second.
View this post on Instagram
The 23-year-old, with electric support behind her, was only 1.22 behind Funk and could have surpassed the German Olympic champion if not for the touch on gate number 9.
Lois Leaver, who added her first senior medal in the kayak cross in La Seu, showed that she is here to stay, bettering her Olympic medallist teammate Kimberley Woods in the final.
The Great Britain star timed 103.88 for the bronze medal, with Paris 2024 star Evy Leibfarth of the United States missing out after topping the heats.
Once again, reigning Olympic champion Jessica Fox of Australia failed to qualify for the final, finishing 16th in the heats.
Interestingly, none of the women's medallists in the K1 from La Seu – Sona Stanovska of Slovakia, Camille Prigent of France, and Monica Doria of Andorra – made it to the medal race in Pau.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
Join Planet Canoe's YouTube channel for €9.99 per month to unlock members-only content and features
Read YouTube's frequently asked questions for more details.
Related links
