Titouan Castryck and Anatole Delassus shined for France as Slovakian Sona Stanovska bagged her first-ever kayak gold medal at the 2025 International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Cup in La Seu d'Urgell, Spain.
Castryck and Delassus tackled the waters of the Segre Olympic Park with clean runs in what was a day of shock exits.
Paddlers got a taste of the single heat format that will be implemented in the K1 and canoe events at this year's World Cup Series, as big names missed the cut for the final.
In the men’s race, Czechia's Olympic and world champion Jiri Prskavec was among those who did not make the top 12.
Click here for live results from La Seu
Despite challenging circumstances, Castryck clocked 81.90 for the gold medal, adding to what has been a superb start to the season.
The Paris 2024 silver medallist finished second at the European Championships recently and will be heading to the next World Cup at home in Pau full of confidence.
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Delassus came second 0.88 later and the defending overall K1 World Cup champion could not have hoped for a better start.
A forerunner at the Olympic Games at home last year, the 24-year-old once again showed that he has all the qualities to bag podium spots at the elite level.
The K1 bronze medal went to the Australian Lucien Delfour, after finishing his run in 83.56.
It was a special moment for the French-born 36-year-old, whose last World Cup medal came in 2019 in Markkleeberg.
Stanovska, who has stood on the podium in the C1, was emotional after bagging a first-ever gold medal in the K1 at World Cup level.
The 26-year-old had one gate touch at 22 but crossed the line in 93.50 for a victory against a spectacular field.
Having missed out on a European medal last month by a whisker, the Slovak showed great mettle to emerge victorious.
Camille Prigent added to the French tally by bagging silver in 94.31, while C1 European champion Monica Doria of Andorra bagged bronze in 94.61.
Among the surprises were reigning Olympic K1 champion Jessica Fox not making it out of the heats, along with Paris 2024 medallists Evy Leibfarth of the United States and Kimberley Woods of Great Britain.
Australian Fox had two gate touches and missed number six, costing her dearly.
While her sibling Noemie Fox reached the final along with compatriot Kate Eckhardt, the duo were unable to seal spots on the podium.
Spanish superstar and 42-year-old Maialen Chourraut aced the heats but could not make it count in the finals, bowing out in seventh along with Germany's Ricarda Funk, who finished fourth.
Full coverage of the ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup can be viewed on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.
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