The Maloja wind arrived ahead of schedule today, delivering a spectacular day of high-speed racing on the flat, glacier-fed waters of Lake Silvaplana. Setting in already before the 10:30 skippers' meeting, the thermal breeze allowed the race committee to capitalize on a clear morning window, completing a grueling eight-race program across two sessions before forecasted thunderstorms rolled into the valley. As the opening series concludes, the leaderboard has narrowed into a high-stakes duel between established titans and local favorites, setting the stage for the decisive Medal Series.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
Men’s Fleet: The battle of the Italians
With the qualifying series finalized, the men’s fleet was consolidated into a single Gold Fleet today, resulting in intense, close-quarters racing. The day was defined by a relentless battle for supremacy between Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi and Francesco Cappuzzo, who distanced themselves from the rest of the pack. Former contenders Mathis Ghio (FRA) and Kamil Manowiecki (POL) struggled to match the pace of the leading Italians and lost significant ground.
The drama peaked in the seventh race of the day when the overall leader, Tomasi, began suffering from muscle cramps. Recognizing he was out of podium position for that specific race, Tomasi made the bold tactical decision to retire and preserve his energy for the final race, while rival Cappuzzo finished 9th in this race – not enough to captialize from Tomasi’s retirement. Francesco Cappuzzo remained unimpressed thereof and won the final race of the afternoon. Despite the late surge from Cappuzzo, Tomasi’s third-place finish in the final race was enough to keep them tied on points, with Tomasi retaining the yellow bib on a tie-break.
Reflecting on his hard-fought performance, Francesco Cappuzzo celebrated what he described as the return of the "real Francesco". Buoyed by his final race victory, he announced his intention to "throw all in" for the Medal Series, setting up an ultimate showdown with his compatriot Tomasi. Both riders will enter the Grand Final tomorrow on equal footing, meaning that each of them has the chance to secure the victory of this World Cup event by winning a race in the Grand Final of the medal series.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
Women’s Fleet: Picot’s Dominance vs. Spanu’s Persistence
In the women's competition, Vaina Picot (FRA) continued her season-long display of technical perfection. Over the course of 15 opening series races, Picot has been nearly untouchable, carrying a net score of just 12 points into the final day. However, the Maddalena Spanu (ITA), proved she remains a formidable threat. Spanu claimed a convincing victory in the first race of the afternoon session, signalling that she is ready to defend her Silvaplana crown.
Under the scoring format of the World Cup Series, both Picot and Spanu will enter tomorrow’s Grand Final with equal points – one win by each of them is enough to win the overall event. The fight for the final podium spot remains a three-way toss-up between Yana Li (CHN), Iset Segura (ESP), and Charlotte Barruzzi (ITA), which will be decided during tomorrow’s high-pressure Medal Series.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
A Fusion of Tradition and Technology
While the athletes pushed the limits of modern foiling technology on the water, the village of Silvaplana offered a contrast in classic engineering. The International Ferrari Dino Meeting brought a collection of elegant vintage cars to the heart of the village, allowing competitors and officials to admire automotive history before and after the day’s high-octane racing sessions.
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
The Road to Gold: The final day outlook
Tomorrow brings the decisive conclusion to the 2026 ENGADINWING WingFoil Racing World cup. The schedule begins with the spectacular Golden Ticket Race for the men’s fleet, where all riders outside the top nine will battle in a single long-distance race for the final spot in the Medal Series. Alberto Citzia (ESP) who currently holds the crucial tenth position and will face immense pressure to defend his place in the medal series.
For the women, the entire 10-competior fleet will compete in their Medal Series, starting with Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals, offering a path for any rider to advance to the Grand Final. All eyes remain on whether Picot can seal the deal or if Spanu will use her chance to score another victory at the lake.
Follow the final day of action through social media updates and live tracking on the event website: https://wingfoilracing.com/2026worldcupsui
© IWSA media/Robert Hajduk
