The France Rowing Team is set to kick off its World Cup season this weekend in Seville, Spain. This event marks the first stage of the international circuit for 2026, taking place from May 29 to 31. Seville is hosting a major international competition nearly 24 years after the World Championships in 2002.
World Cup Details
The competition will be held at the La Cartuja site along the Guadalquivir River. This World Cup will welcome approximately 499 rowers from 37 nations, featuring 215 crews. Known for its six-kilometer natural course, the Spanish basin is ready for a highly competitive start to the international season.
Preparation and Training
Prior to this event, the French team had their first international outing at the Memorial Paola d’Aloja in Piediluco, Italy, at the end of April. This event allowed the coaching staff to experiment with different crew compositions and gain initial insights against tough international competition. Following Piediluco, the team undertook a three-week training camp in Varese, Italy, to further enhance their preparations. They also will finalize their training at the National Training Center in Vaires-sur-Marne before this major season opener.
French Crews for the Competition
- Men’s Events:
- Single Scull: Yoann Lamiral (Entente Nautique d’Aix-les-Bains)
- Single Scull: Hugo Roch (Aviron Club de Lyon Caluire)
- Double Scull: Odysseas Tubidis (Boulogne 92) / Louis Descot Vigouroux (Aviron Toulousain)
- Double Scull: Victor Marcelot (Boulogne 92) / Samuel Arque (Aviron Club de Lyon Caluire)
- Quad Scull: Armand Pfister (Club Nautique de Chambéry-Le Bourget) / Alister Gicqueau (Aviron Tours Métropole) / Florian Ludwig (Club Nautique de Chambéry-Le Bourget) / Téo Rayet (Société des Régates Mâconnaises)
- Women’s Events:
- Single Scull: Emma Lunatti (Aviron Grenoblois)
- Single Scull: Léa Herscovici (Société Nautique du Perreux)
- Double Scull: Emma Cornelis (Sport Nautique de Nancy) / Hézékia Peron (Club Nautique de Libourne 1876)
- Double Scull: Mya Bosquet (Société Havraise de l’Aviron) / Claire Bové (Association Sportive Mantaise Aviron)
- Quad Scull: Violaine Aernoudts (Club Léo Lagrange Armentières) / Margaux Bailleul (Société Havraise de l’Aviron) / Agathe Oudet (Société Nautique de la Basse-Seine) / Milla Massemin (Sport Nautique de Nancy)
Competition Schedule
- Friday, May 29: Heats and quarter-finals
- Saturday, May 30: Semi-finals and Finals C, D, and E
- Sunday, May 31: Finals A and B
Several French crews are arriving in Seville with promising results from Piediluco. The men’s quad scull crew achieved perfection with four wins across four races. Additionally, the women’s quad scull team secured two victories in the finals. Other athletes, including Emma Lunatti, Hugo Roch, Victor Marcelot, Samuel Arque, Claire Bové, and Mya Bosquet, all reached podium finishes in their respective categories during this initial international competition.
Looking Ahead
This World Cup in Seville is pivotal for shaping the international season. It will lead into the second leg of the circuit in Lucerne and set the stage for the World Championships scheduled for August 24 to 30, 2026. Fans can follow the French team’s performances throughout the weekend on El-Balad.
