Maeder and Nolot Reign Supreme: Retaining Titles at Formula Kite World Championships in Hyères
Max Maeder and Lauriane Nolot have successfully defended their titles at the Formula Kite World Championships in Hyères, France.
Throughout the week, competitors rose to challenge Maeder and Nolot, but ultimately, they proved to be too formidable.
Key Highlights:
- Lauriane Nolot (FRA) defends her women’s world title.
- Max Maeder (SGP) defends his men’s world title.
- Toni Vodisek returns to form but falls short.
- Ellie Aldridge (GBR) and Riccardo Pianosi (ITA) win silver medals.
- Jessie Kampman (FRA) and Valentin Bontus (AUT) secure bronze medals.
Intense Semi-Finals
The men’s competition witnessed the most drama on the final day during Semi Final A. Toni Vodisek of Slovenia, the 2022 World Champion, showed a remarkable comeback after early struggles with a new foil package. Switching back to a proven setup, Vodisek won the first semi-final heat, indicating a return to his top form. However, Italian Lorenzo Boschetti narrowly beat him in the next heat.
Ultimately, Axel Mazella from France secured his spot in the final alongside Austria’s Valentin Bontus. In the men’s final, Mazella’s kite got tangled with Riccardo Pianosi’s, clearing the way for Maeder to clinch the world title easily.
Results:
- Gold: Max Maeder (SGP)
- Silver: Riccardo Pianosi (ITA)
- Bronze: Valentin Bontus (AUT)
Silver for Aldridge
Ellie Aldridge was the sole non-French rider in the women’s final. She earned the silver medal, while Jessie Kampman took bronze. Lauriane Nolot, defending her title on home waters, expressed her pride and relief.
Nolot’s Triumph
Nolot shared her feelings about the win:
“I was nervous going out to the start today. But then I looked up and saw a rainbow in the sky and I thought to myself, there’s my lucky charm.”
She executed a perfect start, eventually taking the lead and never relinquishing it. Reflecting on her victory, she said:
“It’s so great to see the level in the woman’s league and especially the Frenchies. My legs are always shaking when they’re around because they’re pushing at such a high level. This week is good for my confidence going into the Games because it proves I am good enough to win the gold medal at the Olympics.”
Results:
- Gold: Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
- Silver: Ellie Aldridge (GBR)
- Bronze: Jessie Kampman (FRA)
Pianosi’s Silver Caps an Excellent Championship
The final day of the Formula Kite World Championships in Hyères saw perfect conditions with winds around 12-13 knots. Riccardo Pianosi of Italy performed admirably, securing a silver medal. The day’s semi-finals were thrilling, with Lorenzo Boschetti representing Italy in Semi Final A. Boschetti won the second heat but was disqualified in the third, allowing Mazella to advance.
Pianosi started strong in the final, initially leading with Mazella in second and Maeder in third. However, a collision between Pianosi and Mazella cleared the way for Maeder to secure the win. Pianosi took second place, with Bontus finishing third.
Technical Director Marchesini praised the performance of the Italian team:
“The men’s kite sector has shown great consistency in this World Championship. Riccardo Pianosi’s silver is significant, and Lorenzo Boschetti’s sixth place is commendable. We look forward to analyzing Maggie Pescetto’s performance to ensure we continue to improve.”
Riccardo Pianosi reflected on his performance:
“I am really happy. This silver medal fills me with optimism for the upcoming Olympics. Today was a good day, and although I didn’t win the final, I secured second place overall. Now, I will focus on preparing for the Games and improving where necessary. These results are the fruit of meticulous work, and I thank the Federation, DT Marchesini, my coach Vannucci, and my club Marina Militare.”
Maeder’s Consistency
Max Maeder, who continues to dominate the sport, shared:
“I had fortune on my side, I had good luck, I had good races. It’s an honor to compete against such great competitors, and I look forward to doing it again with them at the Olympics. I am excited and also a little bit anxious to see what’s going to come because they are going to improve.”
Preparing for the Olympics
Maeder emphasized the importance of continuous improvement:
“My competitors are going to be better and they have learned a lot during this event. So there is more training ahead, there are still things to improve, there are still lots of things that I’ve learned this week. So we will put in the time to work on them, to refine them, to make sure that everything is set and in order and even better for the Games.”
Both Maeder and Nolot have established themselves as strong contenders for gold at Paris 2024, but with the rapid pace of change in Formula Kite, all athletes will be working hard in the coming months to improve their performance for the Olympic Regatta in July.
Final Results:
Men:
- Gold: Maximilian Maeder (SGP)
- Silver: Riccardo Pianosi (ITA)
- Bronze: Valentin Bontus (AUT)
Women:
- Gold: Lauriane Nolot (FRA)
- Silver: Ellie Aldridge (GBR)
- Bronze: Jessie Kampman (FRA)
