Emilie Fer (FRA, K1W) won gold at the 2015 ICF Canoe Slalom World Cup Final in Pau, France outscoring her main rivals less than a month ahead of the crucial World Championships in London, where spots at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games will be at stake.
The races top two was a carbon copy of the podium at the London 2012 Olympic Games, with Jessica Fox (AUS) putting a marker down early that could only be topped by her nemesis, Fer.
Talking after her victory, Fer said, “The run was not technically perfect but it’s a really positive outcome, and that’s the only thing that matters today. Tomorrow I will sit down and try and see why I wasn’t able to follow my plan perfectly.“
The victory in Pau represents an end of a barren spell for the French superstar who has not stepped on the podium in over a year.
With one-eye on London, the 32-year-old continued, “London is the same kind of course, with big water. What you plan before the race is not always easy to apply and you have to hang in there. I can build on today’s victory to prepare for the same kind of experience at the World Championships.”
Austria's Corinna Kuhnle secured bronze after a costly early mistake ended any chance of rivalling the top two; but her composure provided the biggest reward, the series title.
“I did a good semifinal run and in the final I wanted to push it and I did a mistake on gate two, it was not easy. But the rest of the run worked out quite well,” said the talented Austrian.
“Looking back on the start of my season I did not expect to win the overall World Cup. I am more than delighted.”
With World Championships on the horizon, Kuhnle continued, "Anywhere you go, Maialen Chourraut (ESP) will be one of the paddlers to beat, Emilie Fer too, they’re all very good athletes, but the British have a big advantage in London, they’ve been training there for years, I think it’s going to be a tight and interesting race.”
Czech’s deliver whilst French duo double
In the C2M the Czech partnership of Jonas Kaspar and Marek Sindler took the top spot after stunning run.
“It wasn’t an easy competition for us, we had to go through the second heat of qualification to reach the semifinals,” said Kaspar.
Despite a less than ideal run though to the final the pair pulled off a near perfect display in the final to upset the odds.
Kasper continued in jest, “Beating the French on their home course feels pretty great.”
France's top duo, Gauthier Klauss and Matthieu Peche (FRA), secured silver on the day, a performance that also provided the pair enough points to take their second series-winning tally in a row.
Klauss commented, “It’s great. Winning the World Cup was one of our main goals. The World Cup is the heart of the season. We’ve been consistent on the five World Cups. We had to fight until the very end, today was not easy but we are on the podium again, it’s fantastic. “
“Winning the overall ranking here at home in front of our supporters is like nothing else. The public and the organisation were perfect. I’d say it’s our favorite moment of the season so far,” continued the Frenchman.
New kids on the block, Yves Prigent and Loic Kervella (FRA) rounded out the podium.
Today' s Medal Winners
K1 Women
1. Emilie Fer (FRA)
2. Jessica Fox (AUS)
3. Corinna Kuhnle (AUT)
C2 Men
1. Jonas Kaspar / Marek Sindler (CZE)
2. Gauthier Klauss / Matthieu Peche (FRA)
3. Yves Prigent / Loic Kervella (FRA)
Overall Seires Standings
K1 Women
1. Corinna Kuhnle (AUT)* 264
1. Jana Dukatova (SVK) 264
2. Jessica Fox (AUS) 252
3. Maialen Chourraut (ESP) 250
*Kuhnle is awarded the title as she placed higher in the final race.
C2 Men
1. Gauthier Klauss / Matthieu Peche (FRA) 306
2. Jonas Kaspar / Marek Sindler (CZE) 276
3. Ondrej Karlovsky / Jakub Jane (CZE ) 265
