Río Negro, final stage: Pinta and Mozzicafredo reign over Río Negro for the 13th time. Alonso claims his first victory

Río Negro saw yesterday afternoon  the final of the XL edition of its Regatta with the traditional stage between San Javier and Viedma, with the arrival to a crowded river promenade full of people who could enjoy a great sunny day by the river.

Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo celebrate their record 13th absolute victory in Río Negro. Photo: DeViedma.info

In the race itself, no surprises. The last stage followed the expected script. On the entrance to Viedma there was a leading group of five boats, where Balboa and Guerrero marked the pace downstream, looking for the buoy where they would have to return back to Viedma to face the finish line upstream.

It was clear that they were tightening the pace and the group started losing units. Finally, three K2s faced the sprint in front of the crowd at the Viedma shore.

Río Negro, day 5: The Regatta, almost decided after longest stage

The 67 km of the fifth and longest stage of Río Negro Regatta, left the race almost ready for the final podium, unless unexpected accidents, and followed the script written by the leaders through all this week. Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo kept stuck to their conservative tactics and left again the weight of the race on Balboa and Guerrero, who finally took again the partial victory, but scratching just 5 seconds to those from Patagones, virtual winners of the Regatta, as it would be very difficult for them to lose their 4'30" advantage. On this occasion, the third K2 on the podium, Jonathan Muñoz and Andrés Roth, managed to complete the entire part in the group head, finishing 12 seconds after the winners.

Alonso will achieve today his first title at Río Negro. Photo: Diario Río Negro

Interesting was the race in K1. Iván Alonso (ESP) with its title secured, opted this time for a conservative pace that would allow to...

Río Negro, day 4: Pinta and Mozzicafredo, one step closer to final victory

The 4th stage of Río Negro saw how its route, by problems with the access to the river, and modality were changed on the intended plan by the organizers, finally been raced over 57 km (14 more than the stipulated) and with a elapsed start every 15 seconds for senior K1 and K2, which was something initially programmed for the 3rd stage.

Balboa - Guerrero (left) and Pinta - Mozzicafredo (right) during yesterday's stage. Photo: Diario Río Negro

So, after the draw, the fact was that Balboa and Guerrero were meant to start just 15 seconds ahead of Pinta and Mozzicafredo. They had no other chance, then, to push hard and try to put some pressure on their rivals.

Río Negro, day 3: Pyrrhic victory of Balboa and Guerrero after a time penalty

The third stage of Río Negro Regatta, after the first day off, made the 38 kilometers between Luis Beltrán and Choele Choel, again under a blazing sun.

On the water, little news. Again a tight marking between the two favorite  K2s. Balboa and Guerrero became winners again of the stage, but followed only 5 seconds away by Pinta and Mozzicafredo who look to have the young champions under control. In addition, the rest day was used by the organization to set up a report with the penalties imposed on the second stage, where Balboa and Guerrero were penalized with one minute for skipping a buoy getting advantage. This eventually causes the difference in overall after this third stage is increased in 55 seconds for Pinta and Mozzicafredo.

Salvo and Alonso entering the finish line. Photo: César Daniel Nahuelcura

In the K1s, several penalties of 15 seconds for the same reason, but with no major changes in the first positions. The senior category lived another day of transition, with the Spanish Iván Alonso comfortably leading the race, this time accompanied all the entire stage by the U23 Nicolás Salvo, merit the Spaniard recognized at the finish coming together and hand by hand with the youngster from Neuquén, among the applause of the crowd. And that does not mean at all that this third day was a walk at the park for these guys. Keep in mind that in a stage of 38 km these two K1s arrived within four minutes of the first K2s, which certainly speaks well of the strong pace they managed to sustain.

Results after 3 days:
STAGE
OVERALL

Río Negro, day 2: Spaniard Iván Alonso crushes the race in K1

Finished the first third of Black River with the arrival yesterday to Villa Regina and, regarding the K1s, the race is already virtually decided except further surprises. Iván Alonso put the hammer down and showed his quality along the 59 km. of the stage. Since the eighth kilometre made a solo paddle in the absence of rivals that could hang up on his wash. His companion on the first stage, the U23 Nicolás Salvo, yesterday finished second more than 7 minutes away from Alonso.

Photo: Diario Río Negro

It was not that clear the race of the K2s, where Pinta and Mozzicafredo this time were second behind Balboa and Guerrero. The defending champions did not make the mistake of the first day and all the first half of this long second session (they went up to three hours at the finish line) was performed in a compact group that had up to eight boats. Gradually, of course, they were losing effectives until midway Balboa and Guerrero decided to attack after two hours of paddling in the bunch.

Río Negro, day 1: Victorious return of Pinta and Mozzicafredo

Pinta and Mozzicafredo facing the finish line. Photo: Matías Subat

The first stage of the 40th edition of the Río Negro Regatta (Argentina) recovered the starring of the river kings, Néstor Pinta and Martin Mozzicafredo. The 12-time champions returned to the water after an absence of two years and cutted from its roots the expectations about their duel with the defending champions, Franco Balboa and José Luis Guerrero, who yesterday, in the first assault, lost more than three minutes despite being the second boat through the finish line.

For the second time in history, the race began in the town of Cipolleti and not in Neuquen, the usual starting point. With some unstable and cloudy weather, Balboa and Guerrero took the lead just after the start and set a blistering pace.

Balboa and Guerrero inherit the throne at Río Negro. Quiñanao dominated the K1

Left to right: Guerrero, Balboa, Pérez and Scalesi. Photo: Official web

If days 3 and 4 represented a turn upside down in the K2 standings at Río Negro Regatta, no less were the last two stages arriving to Viedma, final destination of the great Argentinian race. On the final day, the very young Franco Balboa and José Luis Guerrero claimed the overall victory, inheriting the throne left by Pinta and Mozzicafredo after having escorted them last year in the twelfth crown of the former kings of the regatta.

On the other hand, the misfortune came to Santiago Scalesi and Spanish Luis Amado Pérez, who were leaders until the last day, but saw how the final victory eluded them a few kilometers from the finish line.

On day 5, from San Javier to Viedma (34 km.)...

Río Negro Regatta: Scalesi and Pérez turn the race upside down after change of starting rules

Santiago Scalesi and Luis Amado Pérez, new leaders. Photo: lmneuquen.com.ar

On the last two days were held in Argentina the third and fourth stages of the Río Negro Regatta, from Choele Choel to Luis Beltran (38 km.) and Don Andrés to General Conesa (43 km.). And there has been a very big change in the K2 races due to the incidents in the front bunch on the first two stages. To avoid them, the officials decided that the Senior Men K2 would startone by one every 30 seconds, in a controverted decision that could change completely the pace of the race. As it finally did.

The lucky draw set Juan Manuel Scalesi and Julian Algañaraz to start first, while Santiago Scalesi and Luis Amado went 30 seconds later. It wasn't long before they joined together to pull forward. Behind,  Balboa and Guerrero started on sixth position, so there were three other theoretically slower boats ahead that could be their reference to reach the Scalesis. And in fact, at half race they were pulling of a second group after the leading duo.

Balboa and Guerrero set the first Stone at Río Negro Regatta

Balboa and Guerrero lead the race after Day 2. Photo: rionegro.com.ar

Last Saturday, a new edition of the Río Negro Regatta (ARG) started with the first stage between Neuquen and General Roca, of 46 km. With the withdrawal of the Río Negro kings, Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo, after their 12th victory on a row in 2013, several couples aim this year to sit on their empty throne.

With the usual heat (races start at 3PM) and a slightly shallower river than in former editions, paddlers must take care of their strenght if the want to go all the way down through the Patagonia until arriving in Viedma next saturday. In fact, after two stages, times are about 15 minutes higher than last year over the same course.

There were five couples commanding the race in K2 from the start of Day 1: Franco Balboa and José Guerrero, Santiago Scalesi and Luis Amado Pérez (ESP), Agustín Reyes and Guillermo di Renzo, Juan Manuel Scalesi and Julián Algañaraz and, finally, brothers Mauricio and Rodrigo Caffa.

Pinta and Mozzicafredo face as leaders the last stage of Río Negro Regatta

After holding stages 3 to 6 of the Río NegroRegatta, the favorites, Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo, face as the last stage in the leadership, to celebrate in the city of Viedma. This time there's a new course, replacing the usual arrival to Viedma by circuit between the bridges of the city, with eight portages along the 30 km.

Photo by Carolyn J. Cooper

 
The leadership of Kiko Vega and Santiago Scalesi after the first two stages was frustrated during the third, the longest of the competition with 68 km. At one point during the race, Vega took the wrong path through a longer route, something seized by Pinta and Mozzicafredo using their very good knowledge of the river to launch their attack and get away. After their mistake, Vega and Scalesi were relegated to third place, behind the U23 Balboa and Guerrero, and finished the stage with a minute and a half disadvantage, which also relegated them to third place overall.

And after the stage, before facing the well-deserved day off, there was the great controversy of this year, when a complaint was officially set against Vega-Scalesi by skipping a mandatory flag when they were trying to recover the time lost. After an entire day of investigation, they were penalized with five minutes, practically ruining all their options for overall victory.

The 4th stage (the shortest, only 22 km.), 5th and 6th were established following the same script from the first day, with the K2s main triplet in the lead and tight sprint finishes. 

Kiko Vega and Santiago Scalesi lead the Rio Negro Regatta (ARG) after two stages

Vega and Scalesi after winning 1st stage. Photo: Claudio Espinoza

It began last Saturday the 36th Río Negro Regatta, in Argentina: 7 stages adding 277 km. Entries record, with 128 canoes, including the great champions of this race, the Argentinians Néstor Pinta and Martin Mozzicafredo, 11-time winners. However, this year, a new duo formed by Argentinian Santiago Scalesi and Spanish Federico "Kiko" Vega are trying to cut off the reign of the Patagonians, along with the promising young pair formed by U23 Franco Balboa and José Guerrero.

Saturday was the opening stage between Senillosa and Neuquén. Under hot sunny weather, the first kilometers of the stage were as usual at Río Negro, with a large number of K2s in the front bunch, as the race is long, with not much rest options from one day to the next one, so nobody wants to expend unnecesary fuel from the start.

However, at half stage it got clear that this year, unless major surprises, the podium will be decided among the three favorites, the thrill is just knowing what the order will be. Ahead were Pinta-Mozzicafredo, Vega-Scalesi and Balboa-Guerrero, leaving behind, in no man's land, the locals Vázquez & Reyes, who seem to e the only one able to seize any mistake from the leaders.

Río Negro regatta 2012 for Pinta and Mozzicafredo

 

The 2012 edition of Río Negro regatta is over and the same picture again at the arrival to Viedma. Néstro Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo celebrate their eleventh victory in a row as a couple, twelveth for each in their own account. The last stage was a "copy-paste" of the six before. Pinta and Mozzicafredo won with a hard attack at the last portage, leaving behind the Scalesi brothers, second, and Percaz - Soto, third, keeping them all that same position in the final overall standings. Bad day for the other couple fighting for the podium, Orellana - di Renzo, who finally got out of the picture just for 49 seconds after more than 14 hours of paddling.

Río Negro: current overall standings

Here are the current overall standings for Río Negro Regatta after 5 stages:

K2 SENIOR VARONES		5th stage	Overall
1º	N. Pinta - M. Mozzicafredo	2:15:28	10:20:45
2º	F. Pércaz - M. Soto	2:15:32	10:26:02
3º	S. Scalesi - JM Scalesi	2:15:52	10:26:07
4º	P. Orellana - G. Di Renzo	2:16:38	10:26:32
5º	J. Algañarás - J. Siriscevic	2:16:36	10:43:43
6º	C. Penchulef - J. Penchulef	2:28:55	11:35:03
7º	R. Gajardo - C. Vega	2:32:37	11:53:06
8º	V. Silva  - F. Aguayo	2:36:17	11:58:42
9º	M. Wright  - S.  Jones	2:35:54	12:12:13

Río Negro: 5th stage

Fifth stage and fifth victory in a row for the favourites Pinta - Mozzicafredo, who go straight for their eleventh victory, twelveth for each of them as individuals. Yesterday, with the arrival at General Conesa, after a 34 km. course in a terrible fight for the lead, the couple Percaz - Soto where about to make it, but finally paid the effort with a fall down to the fifth place. Pinta and Mozzicafredo stopped the clock in 2h.15'28", followed by Scalesi - Scalesi, Algañaraz - Sericevic and Orellana - di Renzo.

In the overall standings, Pinta Mozzicafredo are comfortably in the lead, but the fight seems to be tough for the second place, which right now is for Percaz - Soto (5'17" behind), followed very closed by Scalesi - Scalesi (5'22") and Orellana - di Renzo (5'47").


In K1 Senior, Daniel Dal-Bo gave another bite to his disadvantage after the rudder break in the third stage and won the stage after a strong paddle. He becomes closer to his rivals for the title in the overall, which is lead by David Ortega and Jonathan Calvo, second.

Today's stage will bring the paddlers down to Monte Bagual.

Río Negro: 4th stage

Pinta y Mozzicafredo keep leading Río Negro regatta for their eleventh overall win in a row. Yesterday, after a short (it was cutted down to 21 km.) but tough day, deserved a new partial win, while their rivals fight each other for a second position, so first look now rather far away for them.

The main novelty in this shortest course ever at Río Negro were the compulsory portages, which, along with the strong stream, made this stage particularly tough for the paddlers

In K1, Daniel Dal-Bo made a brilliant stage, cutting down 3 minutes to David Ortega and Jonathan Calvo, so in the overall is now 8 minutes behind his rivals. We'll see if the three stages left are space enough for him to go again into the lead or he will pay for the unlucky rudder break of the third stage.

Río Negro: day off

Tuesday was the day off for all the competitors at Río Negro, time to recover from the very long three first stages and preparing the last four heading Viedma.

We already got information about some messy finish for the K2s at the third stage. It was supposed to be completed upstream after turning a buoy, but the string attaching this one was broken by the strong stream and went down out of control. The three couples that came in the leading bunch then had no turn and the officials whistled indicating the end of the race downstream, when Pinta and Mozzicafredo where leading the group. That circumstance ended with a claim from Scalesi brothers, who alleged to be controlling their reserves for a final attack upstream, and a kind of fight (literally) at the bank among supporters of ones and others paddlers.

And Daniel Dal-Bo, who was comfortably leading the K1 until Monday, lost 16 minutes due to a break in his rudder and cable, who made him stop in order to fix it and paddle for the rest of the stage in a difficult situation. Now he will need some extra effort if he wants to take back the lead at the overall, now for David Ortega 11 minutes ahead.

Today Wednesday, the fourth stage will take the paddlers from Beltrán to Choele Choel, with a 35 km. distance.  

Correction: Scalesi brothers

Since the first post about Río Negro regatta, we were referring the Scalesi brothers as uruguayans, when they actually are argentinians, from Viedma. We beg your pardon for this mistake and will make the correction in all the former references to them.

Río Negro: 3rd stage

The third and longest stage of the Río Negro regatta has come to an end and the favourite K2 couple, Pinta and Mozzicafredo, is still on the lead, closely controlling their rivals and beating them again in a closed sprint. This time, two other K2 were in the fight for the victory, those of Orellana - di Renzo and the Scalesi brothers, second and third at the finish line. In the general classification, Pinta and Mozzicafredo are comfortably in the lead with yesterday's rivals behind but in opposite order (Scalesi - Scalesi and Orellana - di Renzo).

But in K1 there has been an upside down twist after the breakdown of the former leader, Daniel Dal-Bo, who lost 16 minutes at the finish line. In this long stage, victory was for Jonathan Calvo, with new overall leader Diego Ortega closed behind and Emanuel Carnicero third, but with an eight minutes difference. In the overall, Former leader Dal-Bo has dropped down to third position, losing 11 minutes against new leader Ortega.

These are the results for the two main categories, K2 and K1 Men Senior:

3ªSTAGE
CAT	PADDLER	TIME	DIFFERENCE
K2-S	PINTA, NESTOR - MOZZICAFREDO, MARTIN	2,52,23
K2-S	ORELLANA, PASCUAL - DI RENZO, GUILLERMO	2,52,24	0,00,01
K2-S	SCALESI, SANTIAGO - SCALESI, JUAN	2,52,25	0,00,02
K2-S	PERCAZ, FERNANDO - SOTO, MAXIMILIANO	2,55,32	0,03,09
K2-S	ALGAÑARAZ, JULIAN - SERISEVIC, JOAQUIN	3,00,26	0,08,03
K2-S	MICOLI, LUCAS - PELEATO, JOAQUIN	3,06,22	0,13,59
K2-S	PENCHULEF, CLAUDIO JONATHAN - PENCHULEF, CLAUDIO	3,15,59	0,23,36
K2-S	GAJARDO, RODRIGO - VEGA, CRISTIAN	3,22,03	0,29,40
K2-S	SILVA BENAVIDES, VICTOR - AGUAYO, FABIAN NICOLAS	3,28,03	0,35,40
K2-S	WRIGHT, MICHAEL - JONES, SAMUEL	3,38,06	0,45,43
K1-S	CALVO, JONATHAN	3,05,31	0,13,08
K1-S	ORTEGA, DIEGO	3,06,10	0,13,47
K1-S	CARNICERO, EMANUEL	3,13,58	0,21,35
K1-S	MOREL, NORBERTO	3,18,46	0,26,23
K1-S	ROMASANTA, ARIEL	3,21,28	0,29,05
K1-S	DAL-BO, DANIEL	3,22,07	0,29,44
K1-S	PEREZ, JORGE	3,22,47	0,30,24
K1-S	VENTANA, MAXIMILIANO	3,25,49	0,33,26
K1-S	MERINO, ALEJANDRO NICOLAS	3,26,06	0,33,43
K1-S	VEGA , VICTOR HUGO	3,26,48	0,34,25
K1-S	ZAMBRANO, HERMES	3,29,43	0,37,20
K1-S	FERNANDEZ, MAURICIO	3,31,35	0,39,12
K1-S	FEDERICO, NICOLAS	3,32,18	0,39,55
K1-S	RIVAS, MAXIMILIANO	3,33,05	0,40,42
OVERALL
CAT	PADDLER	TOTAL	DIFFERENCE
K2-S	PINTA, NESTOR - MOZZICAFREDO, MARTIN	7,08,45
K2-S	SCALESI, SANTIAGO - SCALESI, JUAN	7,12,48	0,04,03
K2-S	ORELLANA, PASCUAL - DI RENZO, GUILLERMO	7,13,04	0,04,19
K2-S	PERCAZ, FERNANDO - SOTO, MAXIMILIANO	7,13,47	0,05,02
K2-S	ALGAÑARAZ, JULIAN - SERISEVIC, JOAQUIN	7,28,53	0,20,08
K2-S	MICOLI, LUCAS - PELEATO, JOAQUIN	7,48,17	0,39,32
K2-S	PENCHULEF, CLAUDIO JONATHAN - PENCHULEF, CLAUDIO	8,03,44	0,54,59
K2-S	GAJARDO, RODRIGO - VEGA, CRISTIAN	8,15,56	1,07,11
K2-S	SILVA BENAVIDES, VICTOR - AGUAYO, FABIAN NICOLAS	8,18,34	1,09,49
K2-S	WRIGHT, MICHAEL - JONES, SAMUEL	8,34,30	1,25,45
K1-S	ORTEGA, DIEGO	7,48,08	0,39,23
K1-S	CALVO, JONATHAN	7,49,11	0,40,26
K1-S	DAL-BO, DANIEL	7,59,37	0,50,52
K1-S	ROMASANTA, ARIEL	8,04,41	0,55,56
K1-S	CARNICERO, EMANUEL	8,06,24	0,57,39
K1-S	MOREL, NORBERTO	8,15,34	1,06,49
K1-S	VEGA , VICTOR HUGO	8,19,22	1,10,37
K1-S	PEREZ, JORGE	8,24,32	1,15,47
K1-S	FERNANDEZ, MAURICIO	8,33,07	1,24,22
K1-S	VENTANA, MAXIMILIANO	8,34,07	1,25,22
K1-S	ZAMBRANO, HERMES	8,35,13	1,26,28
K1-S	MERINO, ALEJANDRO NICOLAS	8,41,28	1,32,43
K1-S	FEDERICO, NICOLAS	8,48,22	1,39,37
K1-S	RIVAS, MAXIMILIANO	8,49,38	1,40,53

Río Negro: Stage 2

Sunday and second stage of Río Negro was completed between Neuquén and general Roca, 58 km. long. As it was in the frist stage, voctory came again for Néstor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo, who beated at sprint the uruguayan brothers Scalesi, this time in second position. A minute and a half behind, two other couples arrived to a closed finish, being third Pacual Orellana and Guillermo di Renzo, who relegated Fernando Percaz and Maximiliano Soto to fourth position.

In K1, Daniel Dal-Bo keeps leading the race, but with a closer Diego Ortega behind him. Almost two minutes behind arrived Jonatahn Calvo, third, and Ariel Romasanta, fourth.

So far, the general results are...

Río Negro: 1st stage

First stage for the Río Negro regatta is over, from Senillosa to Neuquén, and the main favourites, Nestor Pinta and Martín Mozzicafredo, have already set their first stone for a new victory by leading the race with a 2h.06'18" paddle (for 48 km., which talks about the stream strength), but not easily, just 4 secondas ahead of their main rivals, current K1 champion Fernando Percaz and his partner Maximiliano Soto. Third K2 at the finish line was the one from local paddlers Pascual Orellana and Guillermo di Renzo, 2'39" behind the leading group.