Before the traditional International Marathon of the Ardeche Gorges kicks off on Saturday, some of the participants started in a shorter, 4 kilometres long race, called Le Rush du Pont d’Arc.
Participants who took the top podium positions in the short Le Rush du Pont d’Arc race will be the main contenters for marathon wins as well, as the first three places in majority of the events were won by national team member in canoe sprint, wildwater canoeing or ocean racing. The fastest time of the race was produced by French duo Quentin Bonnetain and Etienne Hubert (9:01), who were only two seconds faster than their compatriots Maxence Barouh and Cyrille Carre. Third place was won by another French duo Baudouin Geniesse and Stephane Boulanger.
The best in men’s K1 was German kayaker Andreas Heilinger who needed nine minutes and 36 seconds to reach the finish line. This was three seconds less than Remi Pete (FRA) in second place and a little less than a minute faster than Nicolas Lambert (FRA).
The win stayed in France also in women’s senior event, where Pauline Freslon outsprinted Klara Vankova (CZE) in second place and Ana Steblaj (SLO) in third position. Only 13 seconds divided the top three athletes in this event.
The fastest in men’s C1 was Czech canoeist Matous Beier (12:03), his compatriot Daniel Suchanek was second (12:08) and Frech representative Thomas Dubois Dunilac was third (12:14).
Alva Beier (CZE) won in MC1 U18 event, Tjas Til Kupsch (SLO) was the best in MK1 U18 and Spela Marinko (SLO) in WK1 U18. Anna Vikova (CZE) set the fastest time in WK1 U15 event, Enno Roggenbrodt (GER) won in MK1 U15 and Gaber Ferlinc (SLO) in MC1 U15 race. The best in SUP was Jonathan Nicole (FRA).
RESULTS
MC1
1. Matous Beier CZE
2. Daniel Suchanek CZE
3. ThomasDubois Dunilac FRA
MK1
1. Andreas Heilinger GER
2. Remi Pete FRA
3. Nicolas Lambert FRA
WK1
1. Pauline Freslon FRA
2. Klara Vankova CZE
3. Ana Steblaj SLO
MC1 U18
1. Alva Beier CZE
2. Ondrej Kvapil CZE
3. Vilem Zuna CZE
MC1 U15
1. Gaber Ferlinc SLO
MK1 U18
1. Tjaš Til Kupsch SLO
2. Hynek Mika CZE
3. Jon Senk SLO
MK1 U15
1. Enno Roggenbrodt GER
2. Robin Bauvignet BEL
3. Paki Magnani FRA
WK1 U18
1. Spela Marinko SLO
2. Ela Stechova CZE
3. Hana Bedrnjak SLO
WK1 U15
1. Anna Vikova CZE
2. Louise Bauvignet BEL
3. Elea Lutinier FRA
MK2
1. Quentin Bonnetain – Etienne Hubert FRA
2. Maxence Barouh – Cyrille Carre FRA
3. Baudouin Geniesse – Stephane Boulanger FRA
SUP - 1
1. Jonathan Nicole FRA
2. David Van Cronenburg FRA
3. Sebastien Respaud FRA
RESULTS: https://www.marathon-ardeche.com/r%C3%A9sultats
Photo: Jakob Stanic