Kiko Roig Sorprende al Convertirse en Campeón en el GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2023

Kiko Roig Surprises by Becoming Champion at the GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2023

August 27, 2023

In an exciting competition off the shores of Brandenburger Strand, Germany, the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt champions were crowned after two intense days of action in the North Sea. The event marked the first leash-free freestyle competition of the year, marking the midpoint of the season.

The reigning Qatar Airways GKA Kite World Tour Kitesurfing world champion, Capucine Delannoy of France, resumed her title defense with a narrow victory on Sylt. The 17-year-old Delannoy leads the standings after two losses in the finals of the pure wave Kitesurfing discipline in the opening rounds of the season. With upcoming stops in Morocco and Brazil to close out the championship, the title race is at a critical juncture.

"It feels great," Delannoy said. "I came here with one goal: to win. I didn't really give myself any other options. It was win or nothing. So now I'm back at the top of the rankings, but there's a bye at the end of the year, so it doesn't mean much. I have to win the next event, and I'm going to train for it."

In the men's competition, Spaniard Kiko Roig had a pivotal moment, taking his first victory and standing on the top step of the podium. Roig defeated the powerful Airton Cozzolino of Cape Verde (ITA) in a stunning upset, with the Spaniard still coming to terms with his triumph.

"I'm really happy," Roig said. "I still can't believe what happened. That's two podium finishes this year. One was a third place, and now a first. It's magical. I couldn't quite believe it when I got to the beach and they told me I'd won."

While Cozzolino was downcast by his performance in the final after a series of dominant wins in the earlier rounds on Sylt, the world title is still within reach, as he leads the rankings after three events.

"I'm sure second place is fine," Cozzolino said. "I don't care about the world championship. I take it event by event. When I think about the world championship, I always get very nervous. I'll keep trying my best, and I can still achieve it."

The event on Sylt left the local crowds delighted, despite the difficult conditions that led to the competition being compressed into just two of the five scheduled days. There was a surprise when tour leader Matchu Lopes (ESP) was eliminated after only making it to the round of 16.

Lopes now sits in second place in the overall standings after being defeated by Pedro Matos of Brazil in the Sylt competition. Matos is currently third on tour, although his run on Sylt was surprisingly halted in the quarterfinals by young German Keanu Merten.

Merten delighted the home crowds lining Brandenburger Strand when he narrowly claimed third place on the podium in a close battle with another new face, Theo Demanez of France.

The women's final, which concluded on the second day of competition, was equally close, with Capucine Delannoy managing to edge out Camille Losserand. The 19-year-old Swiss is in third place in the standings as a result of her second place on Sylt.

The fight for third place on the podium went to Zoe Bazile of France, who narrowly edged out Italian rider Sofia Monti.

The next stop on the Kite-Surf tour will be in Dakhla, Morocco, in less than a month. Join us here for all the action.

Results of the Defender GKA Kite-Surf World Cup Sylt 2023