Italian
In the first stage of the World Cup in Soma Bay, Ginevra Taddeucci is second and Domenico Acerenza third in the ten kilometers in open water
SOMA BAY (EGYPT) – The first stage of the World Cup in open water underway in Soma Bay starts in the best way for the Italians. On the podium of the ten kilometers are Ginevra Taddeucci, second, and Domenico Acerenza, third. In the stunning waters of the Red Sea, the favorites, who triumphed last year, win: the German Florian Wellbrock and the Australian Moesha Johnson.
Acerenza third
Same place, same result. In the men’s race, Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock wins solo, finishing in 1h50’59″5. A run that leaves emptiness behind him when he starts to push two kilometers from the finish. The bronze Olympic medalist David Betlehem comes in second with a time of 1h51’04″01.
Without a cap, the first of the Italians, Domenico Acerenza, finishes third, touching the wall in 1h51’05″6, which he later commented on:
“I am proud of this result. It means a lot to me, this is a podium of rebirth after 2025 when I was sidelined due to injury and shoulder surgery. Even though I competed last year in Golfo Aranci, for me this is the real comeback and for this, I thank everyone who has been close to me during this time, especially my coach Antonelli”
An excellent return for the 31-year-old from Sasso di Castaldo, European champion of the distance in Rome and fourth at the Paris Games in the Seine. Good performance from the other Italians, with six finishing in the top ten. Andrea Filadelli is fifth in 1h51’08″0, Marcello Guidi sixth in 1h51’08″01, ahead of the Italian captain Gregorio Paltrinieri, who, after last year’s disqualification, is seventh in 1h51’08″4. Dario Verani is eighth in 1h51’08″6 while Pasquale Giordano is tenth in 1h51’12″5.
Always Taddeucci
The season of last year’s World Cup winner and Olympic bronze medalist Ginevra Taddeucci starts off strong. The Tuscan athlete finishes second in 1h59’14″7 after a head-to-head battle with Olympic silver medalist Moesha Johnson, who pushes in the final meters and finishes first in 1h58’26″1, thus repeating last year’s success. Third is the German Lea Boy in 1h59’23″3.
Taddeucci then commented: “I’m happy because it was the first race of the season. I’m tired, it was a tiring race. I tried to stay close to Moesha but in the end I couldn’t. We pushed from the start and this pace wore me out a bit. There are positive responses despite the many issues that arose during the race. For now, it’s fine like this“,
Among the other Italians, ninth was Linda Caponi in 2h01’43″9, tenth was the Treviso athlete Barbara Pozzobon in 2h01’48″4 and eleventh was Giulia Berton in 2h01’52″2.
Today at 11:00 the mixed relay 4×1500 will take place on the same course as the 10 km, but with a shorter lap of 1500 meters.
RACE SCHEDULE (-1 hour in Italy)
Friday, March 27
PODIUM AND ITALIAN PLACEMENTS 10 KM MEN
1. Florian Wellbrock (Ger) 1h50’59″5
2. David Betlehem (Hun) 1h51’04″01
3. Domenico Acerenza 1h51’05″6
5. Andrea Filadelli 1h51’08″0
6. Marcello Guidi 1h51’08″01
7. Gregorio Paltrinieri 1h51’08″4
8. Dario Verani 1h51’08″6
10. Pasquale Giordano 1h51’12″5
PODIUM AND ITALIAN PLACEMENTS 10 KM WOMEN
1. Moesha Johnson (Aus) 1h58’26″1
2. Ginevra Taddeucci 1h59’14″7
3. Lea Boy (Ger) 1h59’23″3
9. Linda Caponi 2h01’43″9
10. Barbara Pozzobon 2h01’48″4
11. Giulia Berton 2h01’52″2
Saturday, March 28
12:00 – Mixed 4×1500 Relay
THE WORLD CUP 2026 SCHEDULE
Stage 1: Somabay (EGY) – March 27-28
Stage 2: Ibiza (ESP) – April 24-25
Stage 3: Golfo Aranci (ITA) – May 1-2
Stage 4: Setubal (POR) – June 20-21
Photo Credits: Federnuoto.it
