Repechage Racing
Day Two opened with a suite of repechage racing, featuring crews who have already taken to the water once in this Olympic Games. Most went as expected, although the tussle in the women’s double scull was worth watching; The Netherlands got out early to establish a lead that was never relinquished but the battle for second and third was fought hard by Italy and European champions from Norway, with the latter triumphing by 0.02 seconds with a fast-finishing gear deployed.
On the men’s side, Italy’s internal reshuffle between double and quad may enable the latter to punch slightly harder but has clearly affected the double, who failed to make it beyond the repechage. Serbia, Germany and China all progressed.
Women’s Pair
Heat One introduced the 2023 world champions from the Netherlands, who controlled their contest in mature fashion to secure automatic qualification to the A/B semi-finals. Lithuania clung on well in the opening 1000m to open up a decisive margin on the remainder of the field in second, whilst the USA were third.
Heat Two was all about Romania, who were able to sit atop the field and observe as a frantic sprint to the line unfolded between messers Czechia, Ireland and Great Britain. A sluggish start cost the latter crew, who never managed to regain terms with their opponents, meaning a repechage beckons.
The Rowsellas from Australia put in their most convincing performance so far in winning their heat, some way ahead of Greece, whose crew are ones to watch into the LA Olympiad with two U23 world champions on-board. Chile’s Abraham sisters were third.
Men’s Pair
Heat One was arguably the race of the regatta so far, as four of the five boats chased each other to the line with three spots in the A/B semi-finals up for grabs. Three crews – New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland – led at some point but in the end, it was the former two plus a late surge from Ireland that secured qualification. The Swiss world champions will have to race the repechage.
The Sinkovic brothers from Croatia gave the Parisian crowd a timely reminder of their enduring quality in winning Heat Two comfortably over Romania in second and Lithuania in third.
The European champions from Great Britain dominated the third heat, employing their typically devastating middle 1000m to emphatic effect. Behind them, South Africa and a fast-starting German combination also qualified for the A/B semi-finals.
Lightweight Women’s Double
No surprises in Heat One as the class act in this category from Great Britian reaffirmed their tag as pre-race favourites by dominating their heat. Greece stuck by them without the Brits having to unleash a finishing sprint and will also progress to the A/B semi-finals.
Romania were high-flyers in Heat Two, serving notice of their intention to ensure that the aforementioned GB boat do not have it all their own way on Parisian waters. Behind them, the richly-talented duo from the USA secured second.
The French feel-good factor seemed to come into full effect during Heat Three as their lightweight double surged ahead in the opening stages. Although eventually reeled in by New Zealand – who won the third World Rowing Cup a month ago – France will be pleased to have secured a slot into the A/B semi-finals.
Lightweight Men’s Double
Heat One was another opportunity for Switzerland to rubber-stamp their authority on proceedings, as they cut down a smooth start from the Spanish to control this race. The latter secured the second automatic slot to the A/B semi-finals.
Keen to respond, the Italian combination – whose nip-and-tuck battles with the Swiss throughout this Olympaid has been a recurring theme – got out smartly in Heat Two but were pushed throughout by Czechia on the far side, who themselves were fourth at last year’s world championships.
In the mounting headwind, the phrase ‘Pull like a dog’ has never been more apt and that is exactly what the Irish world champions did in winning Heat Three ahead of Norway in second. A class apart from the rest of the field, all eyes will now turn to a possible match-up between these green-clad thoroughbreds, the European champions from Switzerland and the second World Rowing Cup winners from Italy.
Women’s Four
Not for the first time this morning, Great Britain played their ace card in the third 500m, moving out to near-on clear water over a rapidly-improving boat from New Zealand. Both boats will progress to Thursday’s A-final.
In Heat Two, the Netherlands worked hard to see off Romania, whose depth across squads is something quite remarkable.
Men’s Four
New Zealand laid down a strong marker in Heat One, building a steady lead over a British crew who they have now beaten twice this year. As world champions – and undefeated coming into 2024 – GB will be frustrated to not have sent a message of their own.
World silver medalists and winners of the second World Rowing Cup in May, the USA enter this Olympic Games as slight favourites for gold and their performance in Heat Two will do nothing to dissuade supporters of that notion. Australia – in a re-jigged formation and crew – staved off a late French charge to take the second qualifying spot into the A-final.
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