Francisco Cubelos gives no chance and gets the spot in K1 1000 to represent Spain for the fifth year in a row

The young paddler from Talavera has been reconfirmed as the great Spanish asset in the star race of sprint canoeing after winning again this morning the national selective trial to set up the teams that will represent Spain in European and World Championships throughout the year. On a rainy and windy day, Cubelos beated Íñigo Peña by just 14 hundredths of a second. The Basque missed another chance to win a trial and avoid another victory (and they already five years in a row over this distance) of the small brother of the Cubelos' family. The surprise was the pull out to Final B of two of the paddlers of the current national K4, Rodrigo Germade and Oscar Carrera, which compromises the crew boats planning for this season.

One of the highlights was the succesful comeback to the top of Teresa Portela, winner in the K1 500 on her return to competition after her maternity, and the great victory in the C1 1000 by André Oliveira, who took no more and no less than 7 seconds on David Cal and more than 9 seconds on the rest of paddlers. On the other hand, Roi Rodríguez is confirmed as a rising star. The young paddler from Kayak Tudense had not enough being third in the K1 1000, ahead of Javier Hernanz (4th), but in the afternoon won with authority in the K1 500 beating Ekaitz Saies and Paco Cubelos.

You can see all the results of the day at this link.

Héctor Cubelos beats his younger brother Francisco Cubelos at the Regional Winter Championship

Héctor Cubelos, older brother of the London Olympic finalist Francisco Cubelos (K1 1,000) and Isabel López were the absolute winners of the regional championship of Castilla-La Mancha (Central Spain), held last Sunday at Las Herencias, village very close to Cubelos brothers Hometown, Talavera de la Reina (Toledo).

Left to right: Héctor Cubelos, Francisco Cubelos and David R. Dorado. Photo: Escuela Piragüismo Aranjuez

On a sunny day , but with a strong flooded river Tajo, which had its role in the competition, the audience could enjoy a good day of racing, with the participation of about 130 paddlers of all categories, including the Olympic Francisco "Paco" Cubelos in his last test before the Spanish Championships to be held in Seville in four weeks. The start, due to river conditions and let's say "lack of coordination" between the referee and the paddlers, was somehow difficult and by the time it was done, 80% of the competitors had a two minutes penalty on their race time. Most of junior, U23, but all of Seniors, so actually it didn't have influence in this category.

The race was programmed over 5,000 metres, but river conditions made shorten it to barely 4,000. It was led from start to finish by the younger of Cubelos brothers, Francisco, who took with him about 7 paddlers in a big front bunch, including his brother Héctor, David Rodríguez Dorado, Alfonso Lucas, Enrique Peces and Benjamin Ramírez, among others.

Cubelos keeps being the representative of Spain at the K1 1,000 by winning Spanish Cup

Cubelos, Hernanz and Llamedo during the A final. Picture: La Voz de Galicia

After 1,000m Spanish Cup, held this weekend at the dam of Verducido (Galicia), Francisco Cubelos has managed to retain his titularity in the K1 1,000 to represent Spain in the three most important international championships to be held in 2013: European Championships at Montemor-o-Velho (POR), the World Championships at Duisburg (GER) and the Mediterranean Games at Mersin (TUR).

On a very headwindy field, the races were very tough. Imagine that the winning time was 4'04'', when Cubelos himself won on the same venue the pre-Olympic selective for Poznan 2012 in 3'31''. Maybe that environment is what made possible some surprises (although some are less so), as the bronze medal of Emilio Llamedo, who managed to sneak into the podium beating some of the best specialists in the country, like Diego Cosgaya who was finally fourth. Llamedo proved to be in great shape after winning the 5,000 in Seville. This time he was surpassed by the two main favorites Cubelos and Hernanz. This last one kept being a safe bet in his rendez-vous with the podium over 1,000 (he also took silver in the K2 with his new teammate Borja Prieto), but recognized afterwards being a bit disappointed taking so many silvers in the last competitions.

Emilio Llamedo claims gold in a spectacular 5000m Spanish Championships race

Emilio Llamedo, "Milín", got crowned once again at the Winter Championships in Spain getting his fourth title in 5,000m after a brilliant race that he ended up surpassing Javier Hernanz and Francisco Cubelos in a long and tight sprint, entering commanding a long row of paddlers who reported the good health of current senior category in Spain. Not surprisingly 19 of them finished below 21 minutes, with a 20'02 " gold medal time.

Four Winter Championships for Llamedo at just 25 years old. Foto: E. Durán

Under a very nice weather, the senior K1 race was the highlight of a Sunday  morning that we will comment in successive entries. After a hectic start, as usual with the 70 best paddlers from the qualifying on Saturday over 2,000 meters (and it must be said, somewhat like a "pretty bad start" by the officials), the lead was divided into two arrow points, one with the main favorites on the left bank, with Hernanz, Cosgaya and Cubelos, while the center lined was leaded by Olympic Champion Carlos Perez Rial with Carlos Garrote and Rodrigo Germade on his wash. Meanwhile, an explosive Joan Ardit tried it himself on the right.

Finally, under Barqueta bridge, the race surrendered to the pace set by Javier Hernanz, who leaded the return of the first lap followed by a large group of at least a dozen paddlers with all favorites except perhaps Emilio Merchán, who came in a very large second group led by Kiko Vega, just 30 meters off the lead.

Day 1 at Poznan European Sprint Qualifier, the Spanish review

Spain has gone through the first day of the Poznan Sprint European  Olympic Qualifiers with satisfying results. Five boats out of six competing today are already in tomorrow finals. The C2 1.000 of Bouza/Fernández was already into the final as there are just 9 contestants.

Of those racing today, only the K1 200 of the Saúl Craviotto is pending of a semifinal tomorrow morning. Luckily, it seems that he will be paddling an easier semi, as in the second one people like Öström, Balciunas or Novakovic won't be able to fail if they want the three positions going to the final. Already waiting, as they qualified straight from the heats, are the Italian Rizza, the Belgian Richard and the Ukranian Kharitonov. Nevertheless, we will see which aspect shows tomorrow the weather at Poznan, after a cold and windy day today that made the course bumpy and tough to paddle, even more in such an explosive distance as the 200.

Francisco Cubelos will be the Spanish K1 1.000 at the preolympic in Poznan. Craviotto and Saies, to fight for the K1 200

The Spanish Verducido Dam has seen this last weekend the young star Francisco "Paco" Cubelos earning the K1 1.000 place for the Spanish National Team trying to get the olympic berths in play at Poznan in May.

Cubelos, Peña and Cosgaya finishing in 7 tenths of a second

In a cold, rainy and windy weekend, many races were on the water along these two days, where the Spanish 1.000 metres Cup was held. But one of them was truly expected, as the K1 final was also the National Team Trial for the 1.000. If Francisco Cubelos or Íñigo Peña happened to win, they would get directly the place to fight in Poznan Preolympic Trial and avoiding further trials with a third paddler. And it happened, as the got first and second places, in a close finish where Diego Cosgaya also appeared to finally earn the bronze medal. Only 4 tenths separated Cubelos and Peña (picture above), while Cosgaya arrived 3 tenths later. Cubelos' victory was a truly morale booster, as he had to squeeze himself to the limit to beat Peña and Cosgaya, resulting in going down the barrier of the 3'30", stopping the clocking in 3'29"750.

Video of the Spanish National Championships over 5.000 metres

You may find the race chronicle at this link. Thanks a lot to braisvilaboa for this video.

Francisco Cubelos, David Cal and Eva Barrios, Spanish champions on 5.000 metres

Photo: David Cal beats Tono Campos (Europa Press)

In a sunny morning in Seville, with great races on all the categories, Francisco Cubelos (Club Talavera Talak) in K1 Senior, David Cal (Club de Mar Ría de Aldán - Hermanos Gandón) in C1 Senior and Eva Barrios (Club Deportivo Durius Tecozam - Viajes Sanabria) in K1 Women Senior are the new Spanish Winter Champions over the distance of 5.000 metres.

At the main category, the K1 Men Senior showed the great moment that our Olympic hopes are going through, with an outstanding performance by "Paco" Cubelos and Javier Hernanz finishing under 20 minutes. The 19-year-old Cubelos stopped the clock at 19'56", just two seconds ahead Hernanz after a memorable sprint. The two London qualifiers nominees have shown their great shape this weekend, as on Saturday were also leading the 2.000 metres trials. 

Results of Day 1 at the Spanish Winter Championships in Seville

First day of the Spanish Winter Championships, with crowded races at Seville course of La Cartuja. Seniors and Juniors have raced the 2.000 metres trials to qualify for tomorrow's 5.000 metres finals.

At the Seniors trials, Francisco Cubelos has set the best time with a world-class 7'38", just 2 seconds ahead of Javier Hernanz (7'40"). Third position was for Íñigo Peña (7'44").

Tomorrow we will have a full chronicle of the weekend, but meanwhile here you have the results for Day 1:

Seniors and Juniors
Under 16
Masters