Deusto has positioned itself as a strong contender for the promotion play-offs by securing a decisive victory at the Bandera Adinberri in Pasaia. The boat, helmed by Iker Gimeno, triumphed in a challenging five-turn time trial, enduring harsh weather conditions and finishing 11.90 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Zarautz.
Zarautz, which had placed third in the inaugural regatta, secured the second position, while Zumaia dropped to third overall after the Pasaia race. The crew under the direction of Gari Uranga maintains its lead in the general classification.
The Bandera Adinberri, initially planned as a linear race like the previous Liga ETE event, was ultimately contested as a five-turn time trial due to intense heat. The rowing boats started at one-minute intervals, theoretically grouped into fours based on their performance in the first regatta.
Boats from the ARC-1 league faced less wind compared to the female competitors who raced earlier. The high temperatures took a toll on the rowers, with one crew member from San Pedro, Beñat Susperregi, requiring attention from the Red Cross due to heatstroke.
The lower end of the standings was shaken by the disqualification of Astillero, which had competed in the designated top heat. The boat steered by Juan Mari Lujanbio entered the incorrect lane, resulting in a penalty of losing all points from the organization. Aside from the Cantabrian vessel, Arkote recorded the slowest time of the entire regatta.
Orio B, racing in the first turn, finished tenth overall, surpassing Plentzitarra and San José XII. Hibaika claimed victory in its heat and secured eighth place overall, outperforming Kaiku and marking a strong start to the competition weekend.
San Pedro set the best time in the intermediate turn and finished fourth overall, significantly behind Zumaia's third place and ahead of Hondarribia B, who took fifth and delivered another commendable performance. If Txalo Carrión's team maintains this level, they should avoid the struggles of last season to secure their permanence.
The final standings for the Bandera Adinberri were: 1. Deusto (20:47.70), 2. Zarautz (20:59.60), 3. Zumaia (21:14.27), 4. San Pedro (21:35.30), 5. Hondarribia B (21:37.08), 6. Lapurdi (21:54.40), 7. Pedreña (22:01.54), 8. Hibaika (22:13.60), 9. Kaiku (22:20.07), 10. Orio B (22:48.45), 11. Arkote (23:03.84), 12. Astillero (Disqualified).
In the overall standings, Zarautz leads with 23 points and one flag, followed by Deusto with 22 points and one flag. The top positions are rounded out by Zumaia (21), San Pedro (17), Hondarribia B (15), Lapurdi (13), Pedreña (11), Astillero (9), Hibaika (8), Kaiku (8), Orio B (5), and Arkoete (3).
The third stage of the ARC-1 league is scheduled for next Saturday in the Biscayan town of Plentzia, starting at 16:00.
