Canoeing and kayaking: two representatives from the Dordogne crowned winners at the European Downhill Championships

The European River Rafting Championships began this Wednesday in Mezzana, in the Italian Alps, with the classic (long) races. France reached every podium, winning nine medals in five races, including three titles.

The women's kayaking title went to Manon Hostens from Périgord, a distance specialist who, in 12:15.01, beat her Czech runner-up by more than eleven seconds. Returning to her first love, the Olympic athlete crushed the race just as she had dominated the selection race in Béarn at the beginning of May, with the second Frenchwoman, Phénicia Dupras, finishing ninth in 12:36.86.

French hat trick in two-seaters

In the men's single canoe, the French team achieved a double with Théo Viens winning in 12:19.67, 0.23 of a second ahead of Nicolas Sauteur from Marsac, the European vice-champion. The third-placed Frenchman, Charles Ferrion, finished fourth, more than fifteen seconds behind the podium, which was completed by Ondrej Rolenc from the Czech Republic.

Teaming up in the two-seater, Viens and Sauteur were once again the fastest, winning the title in 12:06.97. Just under six seconds ahead of the Neuvic twins Manoël and Tanguy Roussin (12:11.89), while Corréziens Corentin Combe and Clément Monjanel (12:25.38) helped France achieve a hat-trick in the C2.

The competition continues this Thursday with team races (sprints this morning, classics this afternoon). Individual sprints will take place on Friday (qualifying) and Saturday (finals).