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 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:
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OVERALL