Lucerne (DPA) – Germany Eight suffered another setback two months before the Olympic Games, but showed increasing form.

In the final of the World Cup on Lucerne Rotsee, the German Rowing Association (DRV) parade boat only had to lose to European champions Great Britain.

At the end of an exciting race, the difference was just three hundredths of a second. Unlike the dismal fourth place at the European Championships six weeks ago, the team around batsman Hannes Osik (Schwerin) fought at eye-level duel with their main rivals of previous years.

On the other hand, the German skiff Asha Oliver Zeidler dominated the traditional regatta in Switzerland, as he did when he won the European Championship. With a boat length lead, he overtook the alleged Tokyo main competitors Svery Nielsen (Denmark) and Kjetil Börch (Norway) in second and third place. “I don’t trust all of this yet. It’s a little easy for me,” the 24-year-old from Ingolstadt commented on the sovereign victory.

There were DRV podium places for women’s double sculls and easy male double sculls in ranks two and three. In the remaining ten Olympic boat classes, however, the Germans are currently more or less clearly behind the world’s best.

© DPA-Infocomm, DPA: 210523-9496537 / 2