Petite finals open the day – Milan World Cup Finals

Mr. Grazioli has been turning up at the Idroscalo for 60 years. He comes to enjoy the sun and read the newspaper. Swimming is allowed in certain parts of the lake but Mr. Grazioli prefers not to endure cool currents that circulate under the water.

Water temperature, water depth and weather conditions all influence boat speed and the beauty of the Idroscalo is the consistency of conditions across the six lanes.

Faster crews from prior race results are placed in the centre lanes of three and four so that a “V” formation potentially occurs as the rowers race. It also means that crews in the middle are allowed a better perspective of their competition. Today the C and B finals did not reflect this plan as crews raced for the line discarding previous results and giving their last chance at the Milan World Cup a 100 percent effort.

Men’s Single – C Final

From lane six, Ivo Yanakiev of Bulgaria defeated a field that included France’s Frederic Kowal in second and Jaakko Hasu of Finland in third. Yanakiev goes into his third season as Bulgaria’s single sculler.

Lightweight Women’s Single – B Final

Three boats sorted their order out early in the race with Ariane Banninger of Switzerland took an early handy lead and held it to the end over Austria and Albania.

Lightweight Men’s Single – B Final

Mete Yeltepe showed his potential in his first year as Turkey’s sculler. Yeltepe led from the start over Great Britain’s third boat of Mike Dostal who pushed through Belgium to take second in a photo finish that included Algeria who took fourth.

Lightweight Men’s Pair – B Final

Portugal led over Italy’s second crew finishing with open water at the line.

Men’s Single – B Final

By the first 500 metre mark, Dirk Lippits of the Netherlands had taken the lead by one length. Lippits finished in fifth place last year and was pushed by Ukraine’s Volodimir Pavlovskij who is looking confident to improve on his thirteenth place finish in 2002. Third was a consistent Andre Vonarburg of Switzerland. Is this the next Xeno Muller?

Women’s Pair – B Final

Looking like a repeat of Thursday’s repechage, South Africa’s crew that finished fifth in 2002 came back from a slow start to overtake the United States, after going through the 1500 neck and neck. The U.S. looks to be improving from finishing twelfth in the world last year. Belarus took third.

Men’s Pair – B Final

Poland led until the 1400 metre mark with a higher stroke rate, but couldn’t maintain it. Unable to contend with the speed of the Czech Republic then Lithuania and then Slovenia who pushed past. The Czech Republic used long strokes to take first with Lithuania in second and Slovenia’s new combination in third. An exhausted Poland finished in fourth.

Women’s Double – B Final

Six lanes and six boats giving it all they had as no crew was content to sit back. Latvia was the first to attack and take a slim lead, but it was the Netherlands that grabbed the helm and were not going to yield. Bulgaria took chase and from the outside lane pushed past the solid United States crew who were holding onto the leaders. Final result: Netherland’s first, Bulgaria second and the United States third.

Men’s Double – B Final

The red colours of Poland’s Michal Jelinski and Adam Wojciechowski used their middle lane advantage to sit just ahead of the field. Brazil rowed a very solid race to come second in a photo finish over Lithuania.

Men’s Four – B Final

A very happy Egypt crossed the line in first place after rowing an aggressive race that kept them in the lead throughout the 2000 metres despite a number of strong moves from Poland. Egypt’s crew, rating in the high 30s for most of the race, is made up of last year’s eight plus new stroke, Kamal Hassan M Abdel Rehm. Romania finished in third.

Lightweight Women’s Double – B Final

Greece has been improving with every race and showed their potential today by winning the B final. A fast first 1000 by Poland could not be maintained and it was 2002 sixth placing Denmark and Germany’s second crew that managed to take the second and third spots over a fading Poland.

Lightweight Men’s Double – B Final

The young Irish crew of Timmy Harnedy and Eugene Coakley led a procession over the finish line. One stroke later the Netherlands crossed followed by one stroke later, the Czech Republic.

Lightweight Men’s Four – B Final

Two of the crew set the world record in the lightweight pair last year. This year Cristian Yantani and Miguel Cerda join the four in preparation for qualification for the 2004 Olympic Games and in winning the B final they place themselves in a fine position. Great Britain finished in second with a new line-up that includes double sculler, Time Male. Portugal followed in a close third.

Women’s Quad – B Final

Light tail wind conditions began in time for the women’s quad B final and the order of the three boat procession established itself from the first stroke. Russia finished first, followed by China and then Italy’s number two crew. 

Men’s Quad – B Final

Ukraine won every World Cup in 2002, but slipped to fourth at the World Championships. Today they started their international season with a win in the B final. France finished in second with new stroke, Frederic Perrier and then Italy’s lightweight crew in third. 

Men’s Eight – B Final

Egypt’s eight started off the 2002 season with a bang but failed to make the final at the World Championships. Today they controlled the B final keeping ahead of Poland – who matched Egypt stroke for stroke in the final sprint. Italy’s lightweight crew finished in third.