Disappointment here at Lee Valley this afternoon as Great Britain’s and World No.1 David Florence fails to make it through to the finals. It was a composed start for Florence and on track until the tricky left green and white downstream in the eddy at gate 18 caused the bow of David’s C1 to lift and clatter the left hand pole of gate 18. There was incredible tension and deafening support for Florence as he came down. He finished with 106.16 some 7 seconds down.
The three fastest paddlers all had clear runs proving as always that it is about being fast and clean that counts. Double Olympian, Michal Martikan from Slovakia uncharacteristically struck gate 1 incurring a 2 second penalty. However, he then pulled off a sensational forward direct move between the exit of gate 9 and gate 11. He finished joint fourth to qualify for the final. Martikan’s arch rival Tony Estanguet from France also made the final coming 3rd with a comfortable clear run.
2009 Junior World Champion from Germany, Sideris Tasiadis, just 22, produced an impeccable clear run of 98.94 seconds to take a commanding lead. He will be last off in this afternoon’s final.
Canoe Slalom blog 