The first stage of the National Sea Canoeing Championship will take place on the 13th of April, starting at 15 pm, in Lagoa.
The 14-kilometer course starts at Praia Grande (Ferragudo) and ends at Praia da Senhora da Rocha, with 200 athletes expected to participate.
According to the Kayak Clube Castores do Arade, "this year's edition has the presence of the best national athletes, highlighting the champions of the past season and several national representatives in the last European Championship held in Alicante, Spain."
Bernardo Pereira in juniors, Naval athlete from Calheta da Madeira, bronze medal in the last Europeans, will try to repeat his victory last season and is the big favorite in juniors.
João Santos, from Naval de Sesimbra, senior national champion with six national victories in 2018, is one of the favorites to win, but Sérgio Jesus, from Náutico de Milfontes, national runner-up and the only athlete to beat João Santos in 2018, may surprise, as well as Guilherme Cabral, also from the Naval de Sesimbra, 2018 national bronze medalist.
For absolute victory, veterans Artur Tomaz, from Canoagem de Setúbal, and Hugo Lima, from Náutico de Fão, must also be counted on.
In women, Sara Rafael (Náutico de Litoral Alentejano) and Sofia Coelho (Naval de Sesimbra) are the favorites, however, Carlota Duarte, from Naval do Funchal, may surprise at this beginning of the season.
In the crews, the highlight goes to the senior national champions Diogo Patrício and Nuno Silva, from Náutico de Milfontes, and to the national runners-up Pedro Pereira and Luis Niza (Costa do Sol).
The highlighted 2018 winners, Emanuel Silva and Artur Pereira, have not yet confirmed their presence due to important qualification commitments for the national Olympic team.
In the mixed crews, Diogo and Inês Esteves, national champion brothers in 2018, from Náutico do Litoral Alentejano, will try to repeat the victory achieved in Lagoa in the last edition.
This is the 7th edition of the Algarve race which, in men, has six different absolute winners in as many other editions. The last victory was for the international João Santos, an athlete from Naval de Sesimbra, who added the national title to his victory in Lagoa.
In women, the highlight goes to Sara Rafael, athlete of Nautico do Litoral Alentejano de Milfontes, who has 6 wins in 6 editions and is again the favorite.
The 2019 National Sea Canoeing Championship consists of eight stages. This year the Algarve will stage a double journey with the 2nd stage taking place in Portimão on Sunday, April 14th.
The 3rd stage will take place in May in the Azores (Lagoa, São Miguel Island), then passing through Vila Nova de Milfontes in June. In July, Viana do Castelo and Esposende will receive the Ocean Racing World Cup, which will simultaneously be the 5th national stage.
Madeira (Funchal) will host the 6th stage in August and the national one ends in October in Oeiras.
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