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Emma Vuitton set the fastest time in the women’s competition, while Unai Oteiza headed a high-quality men’s field. The heats also produced contrasting results for the current world medallists, with Paulina Pirro safely progressing but men’s world bronze medallist Michele Pistoni suffering a surprise elimination.

The fastest 30 athletes in each category advanced to Friday’s semifinals.

Vuitton leads a strong French performance

France’s Emma Vuitton delivered the fastest run of the U23 women’s K1 heats, completing the course without penalties in 98.53 seconds.

Czechia’s Klara Vojtikova finished second, 1.04 seconds behind, while Italy’s Lucia Pistoni, the silver medallist at the 2025 U23 European Championships, placed third with another clean run in 99.95.

France enjoyed an excellent session, placing all three of its athletes inside the top eight. Ilona Martin Laemle finished seventh, while Nina Pesce-Roue followed in eighth despite receiving a two-second penalty.

World champion Pirro safely advances

Germany’s Paulina Pirro, the reigning U23 women’s K1 world champion, safely qualified in fifth position.

Pirro recorded a paddling time of 99.32 seconds, but a two-second penalty increased her total to 101.32. She finished 2.79 seconds behind Vuitton.

Spain’s Leire Goni, who took silver behind Pirro at the 2026 World Championships in Krakow, completed a clean run to finish sixth. Her teammate Haizea Segura, seventh at the World Championships, placed fourth in Épinal despite a two-second penalty.

Several other athletes who reached the world final in Krakow also progressed. Ivana Chlebova finished 13th, Antonia Plochmann 23rd, Klara Mrazkova tenth, Mina Blume 11th, Hanna Danek 26th, Dominika Brzeska 14th and Nina Pesce-Roue eighth.

Every 2026 world finalist present in the Épinal women’s field therefore secured a place in Friday’s semifinal. The reigning European champion, Slovenia’s Eva Alina Hocevar, is not competing in Épinal.

Penalties decide the final women’s places

With 30 semifinal places available from a field of 36, the main danger came from major penalties.

Slovenia’s Sara Globokar claimed the final qualifying position with a total of 125.00 seconds. Ukraine’s Oleksandra Horlova had a faster paddling time but received 54 seconds in penalties, dropping her to 31st place.

Sara Belingar, Tazmin Brown, Iris Sommernes and Laura Bickford were also eliminated after receiving penalties of 50 seconds or more, while Hungary’s Sara Szijjarto-Szabo did not finish.

Oteiza heads French trio in the men’s top ten

France also led the U23 men’s K1 heats through Unai Oteiza, who produced a clean run of 86.15 seconds.

Great Britain’s Jonah Hanrahan finished second, 0.47 seconds behind, while Czechia’s Michal Kopecek was third, only another five hundredths of a second back.

The host nation placed all three of its athletes inside the top ten. In addition to Oteiza, Mewen Debliquy finished ninth and Titouan Estanguet took tenth, with all three completing penalty-free runs.

Germany’s Nelian Laryea finished fourth, ahead of Great Britain’s Thomas Mayer. Slovenia also placed two athletes inside the top seven, with Ziga Lin Hocevar sixth and Jan Locnikar seventh.

World silver medallist progresses, but bronze medallist is eliminated

The current U23 men’s K1 world champion, Great Britain’s Sam Leaver, is not entered in the K1 competition in Épinal. The reigning European champion, France’s Martin Cornu, is also absent, leaving both titles open for a new winner.

Spain’s Faust Clotet Juanmarti, who finished only 0.14 seconds behind Leaver to take world silver in Krakow, qualified in 28th position. A two-second penalty left him with a total time of 92.28, but he remained safely inside the top 30.

The major surprise was the elimination of Italy’s Michele Pistoni, the current world bronze medallist. Pistoni recorded a paddling time of 94.57 seconds but accumulated 104 penalty seconds, dropping him to 53rd position.

Titouan Estanguet, fourth at the World Championships, progressed in tenth. Michal Kopecek improved on his ninth-place world result by finishing third in the heats, while Mewen Debliquy, tenth in Krakow, qualified ninth.

Cowan takes the final semifinal place

Ireland’s Padraig Cowan secured the 30th and final qualification position with a clean run of 94.14 seconds.

Poland’s Michal Ciaglo was the first athlete outside the progression places, finishing 31st with 95.54. His teammate Mateusz Hamerski followed in 32nd.

Several athletes were pushed well down the standings by major penalties. Slovenia’s Domen Bregar received 52 seconds, while Michele Pistoni, Vasyl Petrenko and Gordey Shchehlov each accumulated more than 100 penalty seconds.

First European titles decided this afternoon

The attention now turns to the team competitions and the first medal races of Épinal 2026.

The Junior women’s kayak team final begins at 14:30, followed by the Junior men at 14:58. The U23 women’s teams take to the course at 16:02, before the U23 men conclude the competition programme from 16:36.

By the end of the opening day, the first four European titles of the Championships will have been awarded.

Heats results and Semi final Startlists HERE