The 2026 Paddle Europe Wildwater Cup is underway, with the first three stages — held in Fulda (GER), Grandtully (GBR) and Banja Luka (BIH) — already providing a clear indication of a highly competitive and open season.
With eight events scheduled across Europe, the early phase of the competition highlights both strong national trends and a wide field of contenders in the senior categories.
Three races, three different competitive stories
The opening round in Fulda set the tone for the season, with strong participation and depth, particularly from German athletes. While the event featured a broad mix of categories, it established the first points in the overall standings and confirmed the high level of competition across both junior and senior fields .
In Grandtully, the second stage, racing intensity increased significantly, especially in the sprint discipline. British paddlers delivered standout performances on home water, with Alex Sheppy taking victory in the men’s K1 sprint, narrowly ahead of a tightly packed field . The margins between the top athletes were minimal, underlining the competitive balance at the top level.
The third round in Banja Luka brought a shift in dynamics, particularly in the classic race. Slovenian athletes dominated the men’s K1 event, with Simon Oven leading a strong national presence ahead of teammates Anže Urankar and Nejc Žnidarčič . The race confirmed Slovenia’s continued strength in classic wildwater racing.
Current standings: Men’s senior
After three events, the K1 Men sprint ranking shows a closely contested leaderboard:
- Alex Sheppy (GBR) leads with 181 points
- Ivo Lamers (NED) follows with 170 points
- Leon Tomlinson (GBR) sits in third with 162 points
The women’s category has also delivered high-level racing, particularly in Grandtully, where tight margins defined the K1 results. Performances across the first three events indicate strong depth, with athletes from Great Britain, Central Europe and the Balkans all featuring prominently.
Lisbeth Antons from Germany is leading the current ranking with 56 points, with Hannah Muller(SUI) just 6 points away.
With five stages still to come — including races in the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria and Great Britain — the 2026 season remains wide open.
The structure of the calendar, including a long mid-season break, adds further uncertainty and places additional importance on consistency and race selection.
At this stage, no single athlete has established clear dominance, and the overall titles are likely to be decided by those who combine performance with regular participation across the circuit.
Results PEU CUP IResults PEU CUP II
5.5.2026
