Monday, 18 May: A very impressive turnout saw 98 riders from 16 countries kick-start the re-launch of the multi-event UIM-ABP Aquabike European Continental Championship at the first event in Porec, Croatia, with riders from six countries grabbing event honours.

In the premiere categories Runabout GP1 and Ski GP1 for men and women overall victories went to France’s Jeremy Perez, Austria’s Kevin Reiterer and Spain’s Beatriz Curtinhal.

World number two Perez dominated his heats winning both, with countrymen Didier Chabert and Christophe Agostinho completing the podium.

Reiterer was the standout rider in Ski leading home the current tied World Championship points’ leader Nacho Armillas and Mickael Poret in both heats, with Beatriz Curtinhal locking out the top step in the ladies division ahead of Sweden’s Jonna Borgstrom and World Champion Jennifer Menard.

A close encounter in Runabout GP2 saw Italy close out the top three spots and won by Alessio Schintu by just two points from Antonio D’Arma and Giuseppe Greco, with Belgium riders Robin Laforge and Claude Vangasbeck one-two in GP3.

In Ski GP2 Croatia’s Tomaz Kete sneaked home by two points from Czech Republic rider Lukas Binar, with [Kevin] Reiterer taking third, GP3 honours going to Austria’s Markus Erlach ahead of Hungary’s Peter Biro and France’s Benjamin Scharf. In Ski Juniors Swiss youngster Alec Enderli took top spot over France’s Nycolas Olivin and Portugal’s Andre Barbosa.

After a slight blip in the World Championship season-opener in Qatar, finishing second to his younger brother, Freestyle World Champion Rok Florjancic resumed normal service to take the win from Nac, with Roberto Mariani in third.

Round two of the UIM-ABP Aquabike European Continental Championship takes place in Roses-Girona in Spain on 19/21 June.

Results:

http://aquabike.net/results/2015/croatia-porec