The 2026 World Rafting Cup in Val di Sole, Italy ignited the rapids today with the Sprint discipline in Mezzana. Rafters pushed their limits, putting on a masterclass of technique, power and river reading in a race against the clock.
In the Senior Men’s category Japan Rafting Team Teikei laid down the fastest overall run of the day, stopping the clock at a blistering 1'19.70. They were trailed by two Italian boats, with Ivrea Canoa Club-Dream Team finishing second at 1'23.04 and M&N Movimento & Natura securing third in 1'23.80.
The Senior Women’s division saw a powerful performance by Rafting Team Verona-Garfagnana, who claimed the top spot with a time of 1'27.95. ASD Canoe Rafting Pescantina kept the pressure on, finishing less than two seconds behind in 1'29.84, while Ivrea Canoa Club-Lanakila rounded out the top three at 1'33.66.
The most intense battle on the water unfolded in the Senior Mix class. The Japanese crew of Lanakila snatched the victory with a time of 1'21.64, edging out Rafting Team Verona-Ivrea by a razor-thin 0.29 seconds. The Czech Republic’s RK Troja secured the bronze with a solid 1'24.45.
The Para crews also delivered an incredible show of outdoor expertise and determination. M&N Movimento & Natura took the gold with an impressive 1'26.69. Salamandre Parafting Belgium finished in second (1'32.83), and the Kyiv Para-Rafting Team crossed the line in third (1'43.22).
With the Sprint results locked in, the momentum shifts to tomorrow. Join us back at the Mezzana camp on the River Noce for the highly anticipated RX - the most physical and fiercely contested specialty of the weekend!
