All photos: WSL/Masurel

The Basque Adur Amatriain and the Canarian Lucía Machado won the E.Leclerc Pont L'Abbé Junior Pro, a stage of the WSL European junior tour, which took place on the fun waves of La Torche, in Brittany.

There was a great Spanish dominance in the stage, as the men's final was completed by the Basque Kai Odriozola and the women's podium was completed by the Basque Janire Gonzalez Etxebarri. In addition, Markel Vizcarguenaga was placed fifth among the men.

“I can’t believe I finally won one!” Amatriain told the WSL. “I’ve been training a lot and it seems to have paid off. I’ve never made it past the quarterfinals before, but I’ve been practicing a lot simulating heats and I think it’s helped me.”

“The season is long and there are many events. The level is high on the tour so I will continue working and giving my best to have a strong season,” added the Basque who won the first of five stages of the tour.

The final against Odriozola was decided by 16,97 (8,5+8,47) to 14,67 (6,27+8,4).

The Portuguese Afonso Antunes and the French Mael Laborde tied for third place. The Basque Markel Vizcarguenaga achieved a good fifth place.

In the women's category, Lucía Machado narrowly beat Portugal's Gabriela Dinis by 12,7 (6,17+6,53) to 12,5 (8+4,5); the Portuguese was left looking for a 4,7 that she never achieved.

“It was a tough final where I really had to fight,” Machado said, adding: “I managed to win in the end so I’m very happy with the result. Gabriel had a really good wave and I had to fight to get back into the lead. I’m happy to be in first place but the season is long and I hope to be able to stay like this until the end.”

In the semis, Janire González Etxebarri had lost, precisely against the Portuguese Dinis.

The European youth ranking was as follows after the first of five stages:
Men
1 - Adur Amatriain (EUK)
2 - Kai Odriozola (ESP)
3 - Afonso Antunes (PRT)
3 - Mael Laborde (FRA)
5 - Sam Piter (FRA)
5 - Neil Aboufiras (MAR)
5 - Luan Nogues (FRA)
5 - Markel Vizcarguenaga (ESP)

Ladies
1 - Lucia Machado (CNY)
2 - Gabriela Dinis (PRT)
3 - Juliette Lacome (FRA)
3 - Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP)
5 - Lilou Rumiel (FRA)
5 - Aelan Vaast (FRA)
5 - Francisca Veselko (PRT)
5 - Nahia Milhau (FRA)

The next stage is in Praia de Doniños, Ferrol, Galicia from July 23 to 25.