The top nine men and top nine women are locked in for the medal series set to take place on Sunday, the final day of WingFoil Racing World Cup China.
Unfortunately, with the breeze failing to materialize on Pingtan Island, the Gold Fleet racing was canceled, leading directly to the showdown among the final 10 riders.
However, all 113 riders still have a chance to compete for a place in the medal series through the ‘Golden Ticket’. This innovative concept debuted at the Wingfoil Racing World Cup Brazil at the end of 2023. On Sunday morning, all riders—except for the nine men and nine women leading the leaderboard—will participate in a high-speed rabbit start for a long-distance race.
The first male and female riders to cross the finish line will claim the Golden Ticket and secure the 10th spot in the medal series. They will still need to navigate the semi-finals to reach the four-rider final, but it remains a viable path to podium success.
The first instance of the Golden Ticket concept proved successful, as Venezuelan rider Jose Estredo Perez (also known as Golito) climbed from 14th place to win the long-distance race in Brazil, ultimately earning a bronze medal after fighting through the knockout rounds.
Currently positioned in 10th place, Romain Ghio from France is the top-seeded male rider eligible for the Golden Ticket. He is eager to advance and improve his standing. Just behind him are Sean Herbert from New Zealand, Rafferty Read from Great Britain, and Rafeek Kikabhoy from Hong Kong. However, the ultimate winner could emerge from anywhere in the rankings.
In the women’s standings, Yinuo Dong is in 10th place, competing against other Chinese riders eager to join those already set for the medal series. Behind her are Marta Monge from Italy, Liu Yi Xiao from China, and Charlotte Baruzzi from Italy. Mathis Ghio in the men’s category and Nia Suardiaz from Spain in the women’s category displayed remarkable consistency during the seven heats over the first two days and have secured their places directly in the four-rider final, needing only one race victory to claim the championship title.
The finals format has a history of producing thrilling results, as seen during the recent Olympic Regatta where Britain’s Ellie Aldridge clinched gold from a second-place position, while Austria’s Valentin Bontus surprised competitors by rising from fourth to first for victory. Therefore, both Ghio and Suardiaz must remain focused and cannot afford to underestimate their challengers in tomorrow’s races.
With just one day left of competition, excitement and anticipation remain high on Pingtan Island.
Results Men
- 1. Mathis Ghio, FRA – 4.5 pts
- 2. Kamil Manowiecki, POL – 5.0 pts
- 3. Francesco Cappuzzo, ITA – 5.5 pts
Results Women
- 1. Nia Suardiaz, ESP – 5 pts
- 2. Maddalena Spanu, ITA – 6 pts
- 3. Karolina Kluszczynska, POL – 12 pts
More information and results can be found at wingfoilracing.com/2024europeans.
