Freestyle Pro Tour: Hot season finale on Naxos - full starting field with a fabulous wind forecast

The last event of the 2024 season will take place up to and including Sunday. As the wind was not sufficient for the competition at this year's tour stop in Vieste, the European freestyle title is still up for grabs. In constant winds of around 25 knots, the qualification for the unseeded riders took place today. With ten riders and only six places up for grabs, the competition was tough to see who would make it through to tomorrow's pro single elimination. Then it was on to the women's single elimination, where the favourites prevailed despite some strong performances across the fleet. Up to 35 knots are forecast for tomorrow and the pro men's single elimination should be a real freestyle spectacle.

Maaike Huvermann wins single elimination, Lisa Kloster in second place

The women's fleet in Naxos is high-calibre. With eight women registered, the usual suspects Maaike Huvermann and Lisa Kloster are currently leading the fleet. Elena Dominick (who made it to third place in the single elimination today) and Melina Vingaard Schutt have both already gained experience at previous events and want to build on their competition experience. They will be joined by up-and-coming talents such as Bijou Shahmirian, Ziva Batis and Yvet van der Molen. Batis will be making her debut on the tour, as will Linda Mankova.

Can Lennart Neubauer do the double?

Italian Jacopo Testa is currently leading the overall rankings, while Lennart Neubauer is just behind him after a thrilling start to the season in Cape Town. Newly crowned world champion Neubauer will be one to watch out for this week, as the competition is taking place at his home spot. The Greek became world champion just a fortnight ago and will be keen to defend his European title from 2023 in front of his home crowd and seal the deal for this season.

The usual suspects won't make it easy for the two this week and will be fighting for the top spots: Belgians Yentel Caers and Steven Van Broeckhoven both have a lot of experience in the given bump and jump conditions in front of the Flisvos Sportclub. Will we see Yentel's double air culo in a heat? In these conditions, it's very likely! One rider who will certainly try this move is Niclas Nebelung. After an excellent performance in Cape Town at the start of the season, where he beat Neubauer, the German rider will be looking to consolidate his superb third place in the overall rankings. He will be joined by another German, Meiky Wieczorek. After his debut in Vieste, where he was unfortunately unable to show his potential due to a lack of wind, he will be keen to finally get going.

Results day one FPT Naxos

The following qualified for the men's main fleet:
- Sam Green
- Stam Pro
- Tommy Coppola
- Gianluca Sorrentino
- Julien Join
- Sokratis Srl

Single Elimination Ladies:
1. Maaike Huvermann
2. Lisa Kloster
3. Elena Dominick