On the second competition day of the I Feel Slovenia Canoe Slalom Cup Tacen 2025, which counted as ECA Open Canoe Slalom European Cup event and ICF Canoe Slalom World Ranking race, Slovenia celebrated two more victories – Peter Kauzer was the best in men’s kayak and Benjamin Savšek in men’s canoe.
Slovenia’s most decorated canoe slalom athletes, Olympic medallists from Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, Peter Kauzer and Benjamin Savšek, triumphed in Sunday’s finals of the strong international I Feel Slovenia Canoe Slalom Cup Tacen 2025. Kauzer won the men’s kayak final with a time of 85.48, finishing 0.84 seconds ahead of paddler from Celje Jan Ločnikar. The young paddler incurred a touch penalty, as well as third-placed Ulan Valant who also had two penalty seconds and trailed the winner by three seconds. Three other Slovenian kayakers also competed in the final: Domen Bregar finished eighth, Žiga Lin Hočevar ninth, and Tin Kos twelfth. Žiga Lin Hočevar posted the fastest raw time, but 52 penalty seconds cost him the win.
The canoe final also brought a Slovenian sweep of the podium, much like last year’s European Championships in Tacen, albeit with a different order. This time, Benjamin Savšek, Olympic champion from Tokyo, took the win, beating Luka Božič by 0.19 seconds. Despite four penalty seconds, Žiga Lin Hočevar claimed third place, finishing just over five and a half seconds behind Savšek. Slovak Matej Benuš, Olympic medallist from Rio and Paris, finished fourth, while another Slovenian, Juš Javornik, placed seventh.
In the women’s canoe final, Alja Kozorog was the top-placed Slovenian, finishing fifth with four penalty seconds. Right behind her was Lea Novak, who showed speed but collected five touches and ten penalty seconds, costing her a podium spot. Naja Pinterič finished seventh, Sara Belingar eighth, and Saturday’s winner Eva Alina Hočevar ended up ninth after incurring 52 penalty seconds. The event was won by the Netherlands’ Lena Teunissen, followed by Italy’s Marta Bertoncelli and France’s Doriane Delassus.
Slovenian women struggled in the kayak final, as all Slovenian finalists received at least 50 penalty seconds, eliminating their chances for top placements. Ajda Novak finished ninth, Lea Novak tenth, and Eva Alina Hočevar eleventh. Italy dominated the podium with Stefanie Horn (also Saturday’s winner), Chiara Sabattini, and Francesca Malaguti.
As with Saturday, Sunday’s heats runs also served as selection races for the Slovenian national team. In men’s canoe, the pre-selected trio of Luka Božič, Benjamin Savšek, and Žiga Lin Hočevar again led the way. Juš Javornik was the next best Slovenian canoeist. In men’s kayak, Peter Kauzer already secured his spot on the team, while this selection race favoured Jan Ločnikar and Žiga Lin Hočevar, who finished ahead of Kauzer. Behind Kauzer were Valant, Domen Bregar, and Tin Kos. In women’s canoe, Eva Alina Hočevar, Alja Kozorog, and Lea Novak were again the top three. Lea Novak won Sunday’s women’s kayak selection race, followed by Eva Alina Hočevar and Ajda Novak.
The third and fourth selection races for the senior Slovenian national team will take place next weekend, when the country’s top slalom paddlers will compete for team spots on the Dora Baltea River in Ivrea, Italy.
LIVESTREAM – I FEEL SLOVENIA CANOE SLALOM CUP TACEN 2025:
https://www.youtube.com/kajakzveza and https://www.youtube.com/CanoeEurope
