Lucerne - Live Coverage Rowing World Cup

Welcome to Switzerland, welcome to Lucerne. This is often called the

best rowing course in the world. The rowing infrastructure fits perfectly

in it and it is so often like this. Flat, fair and beautiful. What a

contrast to the European Championships in Germany a few weeks

ago. Welcome to the 2016 European Rowing Championships from

Brandenburg with 89 days to go to Rio. The countdown begins today.

Great Britain getting the gold in the lightweight men's coxless pair.

First on the list for Team GB. Heather Stanning and Glover, it

European champions once again. Just caught on the line. The Brits will

be disappointed with that. Gold for Germany and the statement they are

sending to the British world champions is that gold medal in Rio

is far from certain. Great Britain are the European champions in the

men's heavyweight coxless four. A win is a win at this time of the

season. The British crew do it once more. Switzerland squeezed out at

the line and Britain get the silver. They are through on the line and

they have taken it! Great Britain are the European champions. That is

how you do it in these kinds of conditions. Well, it might have been

rough in Brandenburg, that they had sunshine. In Lucerne the wind has

got up and it is driving rain under the tent and I am beside the lake

with Steve Redgrave. Just look back to the European Championships

briefly. How do you assess the British performance? I think overall

it was very good but we ask used to such success in recent years that we

came away a bit disappointed with the results. The gold medals, two

silvers and one bronze is a good hall but I felt disappointed. Our

commentary cupboard is on the far side of the lake. James, can you

hear me? The biggest story from the British point of view is the absence

of the women's double. No Katherine Grainger in Lucerne. Yes, it meant

there would always be some change in terms of how they restructured

themselves or whether they should do another boat. We think that will

happen but we are waiting for confirmation. Then it is which boat

they will go into. And an enormous bout of illness coming through the

British team running up to this weekend. Even overnight in the last

few hours, which seems to have affected every boat we are about to

watch race. Yes. It is a real disappointment. Pete Lambert has

come out of the men's Quad and the women's pair rout of the racing.

This is a big event, the whole world is here, and they want to put in a

big performance and we will see how they fare. Constantine Louloudis is

also out. Lucerne has not always been a happy hunting ground for

British crews in an Olympic year. We have had some shoppers. Especially

in the Olympic year. I have to go back to 1984 for getting a victory

at Lucerne in an Olympic year. It is one of the stepping stones towards

the Olympics so there are lots of illnesses and problems around but it

is not the major event of the year. It is an important one. Does it make

a difference whether you lose or win here? Is it something you can shake

off if you don't have a good result but take the best if you do when? If

you are racing, you want to win. If you have illness and you are not

racing and you have a substitute, there is an excuse that you can fall

back on, but if you are racing many want to do as well as you possibly

can to make sure you don't have negative thoughts going into the

last World Cup race. Thank you. We will go live on the lake for the

first race, the men's pair. Great Britain represented by a new

combination of Reilly O'Donnell and Matthew Tarrant. Over to the

commentary box. Big surprise in the first few

hundred metres, the world champions, the New Zealanders, they are down.

Down a reasonable amount. A bit slow off the start. Not a major problem

but it gives everybody in the first 500 metres a bit of a sense of, OK,

it is going OK. These are the New Zealanders, Eric Murray and Hamish

Bond, Olympic champions, multi-world champions. They have dominated this

event since they got into this boat post-Beijing in 2008. In the second

500, you expect them to overhaul Great Britain in number three. This

is the lane order. Spain, Netherlands, Great Britain, new

combination for this event in lane three, New Zealand in four, South

Africa and five and Australia out of your picture here in six.

Interesting opening stages for the Kiwis. Yes, it is nothing that

different. What they do is they maintain that speed ferociously for

the middle 1000. They are already coming at level and they will be

well ahead by 1000 and storming ahead by 1500. They are not only

that fast but that confident in their ability. It is a 2000 metres

race not 500 metres and they are perfect exponents of that. The other

thing is you don't know how long they have been in Europe before.

They are here for the long haul and they need to be fully acclimatised.

Coming up to the halfway mark. 1000 down, 1000 to go. Poised nicely, New

Zealand, Olympic world champions, to take the race on. Nathaniel

Reilly-O'Donnell and Matthew Tarrant for Great Britain currently in

second place. Matthew Tarrant in the stroke seat. They need a

consolidated 500 metres because a whole load of stuff is going on in

the British team for these guys. They were first in Arrese, the first

Cup six weeks ago. They spout won, they went out there, and they are

battling it out against Sinclair and Innes, the other main pair, if you

like. They have been split up because of the illness. We will see

Innes subbing later. Up to the British to put on a good performance

for the selectors. The reality is and the selectors know that they are

not going to beat New Zealand unless they have an illness or an absolute

shocker. They are not going to beat them. What they do need to do is

fill the gap, basically the void between New Zealand and the next

fastest crew, and what they need to do is demonstrate that they are the

next fastest crew to make sure they get in the selection for the British

slot for the Olympics. They are doing that but it is pretty close.

They are not that far ahead of the Dutch, so they need to make sure

they keep ahead of the Dutch and get a silver medal otherwise they have

no chance of staying in the power. From Cambridge on the north island.

30 years of age, Hamish, backed up by Murray, 34. This is a serious

Olympic year with 68 days to go. They have clear water. Second place

is led by Great Britain. Second, third and fourth are within half a

second and the British boys need to make sure they are on the right side

of that half a second to edge into the British slot for the Rio

Olympics. People ask me what the motivation is behind Murray and

Bond, because they have been unbeaten for so long. What keeps

them driving? Yes, they have set different goals to give themselves

different challenges, but what they are haunted by is the Beijing

Olympics in 2008, when they were 2007 world champions. In the 2008

Olympics, they didn't make the final for the New Zealand four. They are

perfectly aware that you might not make the final despite having the

perfect record. They are just ironing out anybody else's ambitions

to take them on. They are in the position of being unbeatable

mentally in the Olympics and that is what they are demonstrating. New

Zealand leads and Great Britain have got to watch out for South Africa

who are making a late charge in the closing 150 metres of this final at

Lucerne. Out front, New Zealand, the world and Olympic champions leading

now as Great Britain fighting in a real dogfight with South Africa for

the silver medal. Netherlands in lane number two up there as well. We

have New Zealand winning and on the line it is going to be very close

from South Africa and Great Britain. The! It is hard to call. A photo

finish. We will get the full confirmation but out front, clearly

and authoritatively, New Zealand. We will get the confirmation as it

comes through on our screens. I am going for Great Britain in second.

They were caught though. I am going for it. It is a photo finish but I

feel confident. South Africa came back into it and the Netherlands

came back very strong. These guys don't care. The Olympic and World

champions through in Clearwater. Great Britain there just? There you

go! By a couple of inches. Great Britain second. We see it on the

screen now. The rain comes down here in Lucerne. Still a good performance

from Nathaniel Reilly O'Donnell and Matthew Tarrant. These are the

margins. A good performance does not guarantee you getting that slot for

the Olympics. To get the best chance, they need to come second

here. We are waiting. That photo finish confirmed it kind but nothing

is fully confirmed by the governing body until they put it up on the

screen and notify the athletes. It was a good result in any event. This

crew started their World Cup campaign in that depleted field. OK,

the Dutch have been given second place. That will squeeze Great

Britain back. It didn't look like that. Great Britain get third place.

There will be a moment of elation of silver being pushed back into

bronze. Perhaps one of the most predictable

gold medals of the day for the Kiwi pair. I suppose the question

everybody wants to know is whether they are the best pair ever. I think

you keep asking that question and you are the only one who wants that

answer! They are certainly the best pair around of their decade.

Whatever situation. I don't think that was a great performance by

them. Very rarely do we see them holding back in the field. Their

technique wasn't looking that smooth as it has done before. It looked

like they were driving their legs really strongly and not being that

effective. They are such a class above everyone else around them,

they were still able to win the race. It puts them under a lot of

pressure when they are in the first 504th or fifth when we first joined

that race. -- when they are in the first 500, and they are fourth or

fifth. We always used to try and lead the race straightaway. We

always paced the first 1000 the way that we needed to be set so that we

could last the distance and not overcome it, and most of the time

that put us out in front, and that is the way that Eric and Hamish have

done it over the years as well. If you are leading by a long way, it is

not likely that anyone will come back. I am not putting doubt out

there that there will be an Olympic gold medal round their neck in a few

months' time, but that is not their best by any stretch of the

imagination. James, you have just commentated on the race, but

pointing to the attributes of the Kiwis that make them so consistent

and dominant in this event, it is no surprise that they keep on winning

and I am sure nothing will get in their way between now and Rio.

Exactly. They have so many things in their favour, part the fear -- apart

from the fear they strike into the hearts of their opponents, and they

are not very heavy. The cruise around them have got to match them

in strength and also in terms of weight. They didn't row that well

today that their technique is ferociously in that middle bit. They

really dig deep. Their paces what crews find it difficult to live

with. They can spread faster at either end but it is in the middle

that they destroy people. As if by magic we are joined by Eric and

Hamish. How was that race? Surprising to be so far down earlier

on. It is a to kilometre race, man! We haven't been doing our job

properly of trying to be the best, and then people wouldn't find ways

to beat us, like going out in front. Luckily enough nobody can match is

in the middle part of the race. If that happens, they will be closer to

the finish but until then we have plenty to work on in the first part

and we will always keep striving for more, simple as that. Some of your

fitness results are obscene. That must give you confidence in the

middle of the race. Yes, this is 16 years of hard grind.

We are always trying to find ways to push each other. That is producing a

successful programme, we are pushing in the team. How much appetite have

you got for rear? It is a few weeks away now. We will be based in Europe

for the whole period until rear. We are still getting our feet on the

ground, we have only been in Europe for five days. It is a long way to

come across the world. We are looking forward to Rio, it will be

exciting. A few more races before Rio kicks off hopefully. Are you

thinking about Rio now? If you start thinking too far ahead, you lose

sense of the process. Those decisions come pretty closely up,

but now we are just focus on what happens between now and beer and

forget about what happens in the future. It is great to see you going

quick. We hope the Brits are going to push you really hard. I do as

well. Everybody is out there to try and win, people are not out there to

make up the numbers. People want to win, and we do as well. You could

not make it up. Fantastic role models for our sport. Very much so,

they are a class act in everything they do, the training, the racing

and the preparation and media interviews as well. Two top guys.

Let's turn our attention to the men's lightweight double sculls.

That happened earlier today. This is a split regatta, so we have got

morning racing and afternoon racing. We are going to have the men's quad

today. There was another illness and it affected the crews today. Let's

see how they got on. Two years ago Great Britain in this

event had a dream season, finishing with a silver medal in the World

Championships. Since then it has been a time of frustration with

injury and illness. That illness continues again today. They were

disappointed with their finish in the European Championships three

weeks ago. Jack Bowman comes in for his ill team-mate. Graeme Thomas is

in the stroke seat. Two subs on board the quadruple sculls for

Britain. Jack Beaumont sits in the bow seat. He is also doubling up in

the men's double sculls. Great Britain in four and Switzerland in

five. Such is the competition here getting to this final that Germany

complete the line-up, closest to us, and they are the world and Olympic

champions, in lane six. Not the best lane to be in. You are very much out

of it. You do not want to be on the outside lane for a number of

reasons, here because the camera crew are next to you. But our quad

are going well. They are showing that a change does not necessarily

take away anything from your attitude and your boat speed. The

other five crews are all in a line. Our boys are three quarters of a leg

up and they could build on this in the middle part of the race. That

would be a fantastic step forward. Graeme Thomas to the left of your

picture is leading this British quadruple sculls. Again absolutely

fantastic conditions on the water. When you are on the water level you

get a feel of how the boat is moving, the speed of the boat. Such

contrast in conditions than we had at the European Championships a few

weeks back. Although it is disappointing to have so many

injuries and illness, the guys coming in now with 60 days to go, if

they race well here, they can put themselves back into the mix to be

part of it permanently. This quad is consistently fast and there are

about six or eight of them and if you race well, you have got every

chance of keeping your seat. They are racing world so far, but it is

only halfway yet. Three quarters of a length up for Great Britain.

Australia and Switzerland are in amongst it all. I am looking at the

speed of the German crew. They are sitting around fifth. It is a big

question to nail the third 500 here. If they can continued this momentum.

The Australians have strengthened their team and they will push hard.

Australia are coming back and tracking Great Britain. Switzerland

is in lane number five and we also expect Germany to find some speed in

this third. The Australians are moving quickly now. But will they

pay for it in the last 400 metres? We traditionally have a strong last

500 and not a fast first 500. Will it have cost them a little bit of

gas in the last 500? The Australians are now coming back to a quarter of

a length. This third 500 has been blistering from the Australians.

There is a quarter of this race to go and the British are hanging on by

their fingernails as the Australians continue to find the speed. When you

get tired, it is harder to hold it together and when you get tired and

you are a new combination that gets magnified, so it will be difficult.

The heads have got to stay up. Clear water, the Australians are coming

through. It is almost a matter of forgetting the Australians and

concentrate on the speed and keep the sharpness, not to be demoralised

by the Australians. Otherwise the rest of the world will come back at

you. If they get frustrated, the Australians are overtaking them, but

the reality is they are still ahead of the other four boats. This is a

very good performance from scratch team. The Australians are showing

their pedigree from last year's World Championships. Australia have

taken a full two let's clear water out of Great Britain. They are

moving away as the British crew contain the Swiss in lane number

five. It is gold to Australia and silver to Great Britain and bronze

to Switzerland. All things told with Jack Beaumont in the bow street that

is a pretty good result for the British to get a medal will stop

three weeks ago they were fifth at the European Championships.

Australia, Great Britain and Switzerland.

How was that feeling, especially in the opening stages? It was nice to

have a look around and see that we were up. What can I say? We have

changed the line-up in three weeks. The guys did a good job and we had

trouble on the race day and Jack has done a great stepping in once again.

The first stroke we took together as a four we were all over the place.

But it shows what depth British spelling has got these days, put

anyone in and we are on the podium. This is a massive step forward from

the European Championships? Yes, the European Championships were

disappointing for us and the weather was horrible. They did not give us a

favourable lane, but we had to put out there what we had. We put

together a different combination and try to get some speed in the first

kilometre. We were really happy with our first kilometre, but there is

still more work to do. Sam, how much more work is there to do? How much

more potential is there in this combination M there is bags of

potential. Firstly, Jack did an excellent job today. That was

last-minute stuff. An hour and a half before racing we changed it. We

did our first stroke and we nearly capsized! We thought, oh, no, what

is going to happen here? That it settles down and we kept our heads

and we rocketed off. That is what we spoke about. On the one hand we were

really excited to race as a new line-up and go all the way to the

line in that position. Maybe changing just then cost us, but all

credit to the Australians. Jack, briefly, you have a busy day coming

up. In three hours per I am in the main's doubles final, but I feel a

bit bad for my partner. It shows you how good these guys and Pete and the

coach are. They can get rid of one and drop me an an hour and a half

before and still get a medal, pretty fantastic. A great result, guys,

good luck, we will see you later. A fantastic performance from that

men's squad. There has been a sea change in British spelling and men's

sculling. It has been ten years, 15 years ago there was nothing like the

quality that we see now. I think you can go back to 1977 which is the

only gold medal we won at a World Championship. It was in the doldrums

and I was part of those doldrums" and coming a long way behind. Is it

partly the junior system that is encouraging more boys and girls into

sculling? That is part of the story. The other part of the story is that

they are so successful at sweeper rowing that they cannot get into the

sweeper team. That has raised up a level and now they see sculling as a

realistic chance of a medal and that motivate the next generation. Jack

has been brilliant. He did not know this morning until early this

morning that he was sobbing into the cord. He had a tough semifinal in

the peers yesterday and he has still got another final two row later. We

will see. His dad used to row in the early part of my career. I do not

know if Pete every medal at Lucerne, so Jack has gone one above that. We

have seen changes enforced on some of the crews and the men's pair was

another example, a complete change in Munich, and yet they have got

another medal. It seems that the depth in this squad is a lot more

than we were ever used to. Pretty much so. There is no coxed pairs at

the Olympic Games. It appeared that has raised there are world champions

in the coxed pair. That is a little bit of downgrading because there is

not an Olympic event. The pair that had raised at the Europeans this

year have been sucked into other boats and one of them is ill as

well. There is huge and depth, so we do not know who is going to be the

pair at the Olympic Games yet. This is the men's coxless four. We sent

James along to catch up with a key member of the group who is racing

here, George Nash. Great Britain by the men's European

champions. At the Europeans the conditions were incredibly rough and

when I crossed the line I thought, I have not got anywhere near as much

out of myself as I usually do because I was hampered by the wind

and the conditions. That frustrated me. Ultimately the job is to win and

we got that under our belts. Over the winter did you have a preference

as to whether you would be in the eighth or the four? When they were

announcing the team who was going to go for the four I thought I probably

would rather be in the fours. But the aids is a fast and furious event

that I personally enjoy. There is something to taking that on for

sure. I am probably more of a realist and the is when we raised

the four we won by a lot more than when we raised the aids how has it

been with the guys that you work with last year and how is it since

you have become a separate team? I don't look at it as a separate

outfit. We are one effort trying to win, mostly by taking chunks out of

each other in training, which we have been doing. It has brought

really good things out of both boats. It is not as acrimonious as

it could be and in general it is pretty healthy. I am not going to

deny that there are small tensions between crews. There always will be

with competitive guys. It might occasionally boil over here and

there but in the big picture it is pretty healthy. Great Britain get

the gold medal! Great Britain are the Olympic champions. Gold medal

for Great Britain. Wonderfully done. Great Britain, the Olympic champions

once more! Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London and Rio will be the fifth.

Does that add to the pressure of being the top boat but also being

the first one in 20 years not to win? I honestly do feel a bit like

that. If things don't go quite to plan, the guys around me are just

fiercely strong. I have a huge amount of respect for them. I am

probably objectively the worst guy in this crew, so if we are losing it

is me that needs to do my shoelaces up. Out of the four of view, who is

the most opinionated out of the water and who is the most negative

out of it? Mo rarely said we have nothing to work on. He really

strives for perfection. Stan is very matter of fact. Sometimes he will

say it is fine and sometimes he will say he is not happy with it. Greg is

relaxed and positive, sort of a mixture really. If I have had a good

night's sleep I am positive and not if I haven't. We do our best.

We can see the coxless fours loaded up on the start. Constant Tyler

Lueders, the selected stroke man for this combination for the European

Championships is at home else. -- Constantine Louloudis.

Over to the commentators. Thank you. Big Dave, McBride T,

sitting in the bow seat of the top boat in the men's heavyweight team.

-- big day for Callum McBrierty. They are coming under starters

orders. Wait for the green light. We want now is Great Britain ease out.

Slightly down on the first stroke but now they will start to wind it

up. Led by Alex Gregory, 32 years of age, in the stroke seat, the Olympic

champion in this event back in 2012 and leading out one of the top

stroke man in the team anyway. Traditionally in the bow seat. He is

getting his big chance to show Jurgen Grobler, the chief coach of

the men's team. I know there is a lot of mutual respect between him

and Alex Ferguson. At clean and fast. Australia taking on the

momentum. Grease dropping off. Great Britain finding their stride. Alex

Gregory, then George Nash, then Mo and then the super sub Callum

McBrierty in four. Quality field here because the American boat is

the top American sweep vote and the Australian crew is also the top

Australian sweep boat. Yes, it is the best American boat, although

they favour the eights, so they put therefore most athletes -- there for

most athletes in the four. America and us are in the mix. The

Australians going to the second 500 metres just leading the field here.

2015 silver medallists in this event at the World Championships. Really

big opportunity now for Great Britain. Just starting to

consolidate. They are into the race now. Relaxing and finding easy speed

as they sit alongside the Netherlands. The Netherlands did not

start in the Group B final. Great Britain won that event here.

Difference between them and the Dutch crew over the last few weeks.

They didn't have the quickest start European Championships and this 500

hasn't been that fast, but what they need to do is what the New Zealand

pair demonstrate, which is a phenomenal middle part of the race.

There they space. The Australians are actually showing that to them.

The real drive for successful club in the second half. -- the drive for

success will come in the second half. My fear and my hope is that

the Australians can't demonstrate that in the second half. Add

Lucerne, the penultimate World Cup regatta on the road to Rio. Coming

up to halfway. The coxless fours. Netherlands in third, Russia in

fourth, the USA languishing in fifth surprisingly. Around 1000 to 1250,

they lift the pace. Not very comfortable from the Russian crew

inlay number six. Led by a 33-year-old. You Klopp will not like

watching this. -- Jurgen Grobler. He will find out more about his crew in

this position than if they are winning from the start. Their second

to last race before the Olympics. Nearly one length behind the

Australians and going to have to dig deep. 750 metres left and if they do

not dig deep now, they won't win. Now you can find out what your crew

is made up. Yes, you can be the top boat, but you cannot find out what

you have got if you're not put in this position. You don't want that

first-time situation to be in Rio so this is great. There is an overlap,

three quarters of a length down on Australia. If you are in the bowels

of your four, how can they respond without panicking? The bow seat is

the only person in his peripheral vision who can see the Australian

boat. Alex Gregory, Mo and George Nash. They are rowing against

nothing. He is going to have to be not only a sub but a real

communicator. Reaching back. We are going to have to go now or we don't

have a chance. They have to get back three quarters of a length and I

don't think the Aussies will let this go. Two feet in the last 500

metres, so the mid paced Australian crew, the middle part of the race,

really solid. The British are starting to move up to a rate of 40

strokes a minute. 39 is still high but they are not matching the

British crew as they surge. That is the powerhouse of the British men's

team in the middle. They are down to half a length now. What the Aussies

haven't got compared to the Brits is raw horsepower and this is where it

will count. They will be checking it in now. Jurgen Grobler will be

watching and wondering if the training has paid off. He has put

his boys through hell in the gym and on the water and on the rowing

machine and this is where it will pay off. Win or lose. They are

running out of water here add Lucerne. The British crew continue

to throw everything, the kitchen sink, at it and it will go right to

the line. The Australians are going to crack. They are coming under

pressure. The Australians have cracked and the British have got a

couple of strokes just to tease it. Look what they have done! They have

caused the Australians to catch a crab on the line! That was the

pressure led by the British crew. That is why Jurgen Grobler coaches

the very best and makes the very best. And Alex Gregory new when it

was all going dark that they picked it up. They don't know yet. Gregory

threw his hat away. He threw it when they crossed the line and they

thought they had lost. But they did not know the Australians had caught

a crab. Look at the pain in Alex Gregory. That is unforgivable to do

that at this level. Australia world silver medallists. It is like

tripping over when you come to the 400 metres and you get to the last

100 metres and you trip over. The quality in this group is so high

that they shouldn't have done that. They are getting the confirmation.

Do the British know that they have won? They are still looking around.

The expectation was that the Australians made as fight for that

and it was harder than it should have been. Win or lose, they will

not be happy. Slightly happier having won. But to beat the

Australians on the line and they had to make a mistake for the British to

win. Nevertheless. They learned a huge amount about themselves in that

race and that will be much more viable than winning the European

Championships. By Rio, that'll be a real positive and good on them for

being that far down. Yes, the Australians made a mistake, but not

on their own. They were pushed into it by the relentless pressure of our

boys in the last few hundred metres. It is very close. On the line. What

a result for the British. Well, Steve, what a result for the

British. A win is a win, but the talking point will be the Australian

crowd in the last two strips. James and Gary said that was unforgivable.

The pressure they were put under, as Gary said, as well, but they have

almost perfect water here. It literally happened just right behind

us and I was focusing on the British crew and we were catching a bit of

water. We were struggling in those last few strokes. I thought they

would come through and take the victory without that crab, and then

I thought they wouldn't do it as they came past. Then that whopper

that the Aussies caught. They are going to be disappointed with that,

even with a spare on board. They would like to be dominating this

event. If that was the silver, that was a good performance by carrying a

sub, but they will not be happy with it but as supporters that is a very

good result. What will Jurgen Grobler be saying to them? I think

he will be patting them on the back and saying well done. Carrying a

sub. They had if you training sessions and they knew they had a

sub a few days ago. Not like some those that have been thrown into day

with substitutions. Not the strongest person in the team coming

in as the sub. He is much further down the ranking of a sweet rowing

team. That is still a good performance. I think Jurgen Grobler

will be disappointed they haven't dominated it but not grossly

disappointed overall. Even with that situation, they are still in the

first two. If the Australians didn't catch their crab. And they have

taken the victory with the Aussies handing it to us. George Nash told

about it in the film before the race. It is happening again and

again. We have won since 2004, 2008, 2012, on it goes, and it is weighing

heavier and heavier on these guys. Possibly. If you look back at the

Olympic victories over the last four Games, they have been very narrow

gaps. These guys have the opportunity to win by a very long

way and if I was in that crew, that is what I would want to do. I want

to make sure we are not winning by 0.08 of a second. I want to be one

length in front of these guys, which I think they can be. I am losing

concentration because the crew are coming. Well done. Callum,

congratulations. Mo, how do you assess that performance? It was a

pretty difficult race. We knew the Aussies were a strong crew and they

went out and took the bull by the horn and we played catch up the

whole way but I never thought they would beat us. Their play to the

rest of the crew. They stuck with it and we didn't know if we had won,

hence the exhilarating at celebrations at the end. When did

Jurgen Grobler say that you are going in the four for Lucerne?

Everybody does that impression of him! I got the call and that was

exceptional. All credit to these boys. Absolutely incredible race. I

actually thought we lost it on the line because the Australians were

shouting that they had won. Then Jurgen Grobler goes, look at the

board! I don't know if we can replay it for you but they caught a crab on

the line. Two strokes from the line. Two man got one in the chin. How was

it from the stroke seat, Alex? Not the normal way you have been rowing

in fours in recent years? No, but like Mo said, it was never in doubt.

I think we pretty much did a start and carried on that stuff. I don't

think I have raced so hard in a race. Not the textbook way to race,

but we have got Cal in the boat and he has been a superstar from day

one. He slotted in no problems a pretty pleased with that.

George, you said after the European Championships it was difficult to

get all your power in the water. Your face tells me that you gave

everything in that race. I managed to get in, it was a great effort.

Are you now laying down a challenge for the stroke seat? I am sure

Constantine is watching this, is the battle on? I am very happy for him

to be in the seat if he wants it. I think today shows that whatever crew

we put out, and this can happen at the Olympics, we can go out there

and win whatever crew we put out and it is a very good sign. Listen, well

done, that is a really fantastic performance. Enjoy the medal

ceremony and we look forward to Rio and the improvements that are to

come. Now we are going to turn our attention onto the women's eight.

This is a live race happening out on the lake. I hope we can see them

sitting out on the start. One of the few British crews that has not been

affected by the illness. I will hand you over to our commentators.

USA are in lane number three, the multi-world champions, the Olympic

champions. They come through the collegiate system and it is very

strong on the women's France. Time and again they produced top boats.

But just maybe this year the British are coming together quite nicely. --

on the women's front. Great Britain set as the current European

champions. That is pretty impressive, a good benchmark to

have. Canada are bronze medallists. They have been medalled many times

at the Olympics and World Championships. A very strong field,

USA to the right and Canada to the left of the British. We just home in

on the Olympic champions from the United States. We are coming under

starter's orders. Just a little bit of a breeze, a very big day here.

Waiting for the starter from the tower block behind.

James, the expectation on the British crew, we expect them to

medal here if they are going to step up again and be real medal

contenders. If they are to be medal contenders, they have to step up

here. Three of the five crews are not European nations, so they will

be racing for the first time and they will know where they are on a

global level. There are two very interested spectators in Katherine

Grainger and Helen Glover watching at home. They are poised and they

are ready to go. New Zealand are the world's silver medallists. USA are

the world champions, the defending champions and the current Olympic

champions. Great Britain are the European champions. Canada is driven

by Lesley Thomson Wylie who was coxing in 1992. She has been a real

stalwart for the women's eights since then. The British crew have

had a good start so far. By a couple of feet at these early stages the

USA lead. At the European Championships the British were

laying down on the Dutch at halfway. If they row like that here, they

will be almost two length down on the Americans. So really set a poor

start at the European Championships was an anomaly and they would not be

at those situations here. So fire they are true to their word. The

British crew are looking very strong because they are looking long, they

have got good length. Great Britain are on the heels of the Olympic and

world champions by one foot. The Olympic champions are leading Great

Britain. Canada are in the bronze medal position. Now it is all about

consolidating into the second 500 metres, particularly with the eight

because it is a sprint event. So much riding on the individual

members of the crew, but also the expectations that the supporters,

friends and family have. They know they have to deliver. Look how they

have taken out almost half a length. Lane number five, Canada, are

slipping back. So far, so good. But if you look at the same picture, the

Americans have taken half a length and New Zealand has come back. There

are three other boats you have to worry about. The eights, yes, it is

a sprint race, but this is an incredibly impressive first 500. But

the New Zealanders are sneaking back up on them. This is only 25% of the

race. We are coming up to the 50% of the race. A good benchmark for the

British crew. They went through the first time in two feet down on the

Americans. The Americans are the Olympic champions and they have

stepped up in that second 500. New Zealand are coming back hard on the

tails of the British crew. Fran is going for her fifth Olympic Games.

She does not look that relax, but halfway through the race you would

not be relaxed. In terms of building for the Olympics, if they can come

away with a silvery here, that would be very impressive. This would be a

really good platform for whatever will happen going forward. A silver

would be a solid benchmark for everyone. The British crew now have

to really nailed this third 500. Four of the American eight have

already raised in this regatta. Two in the Kiwi eight have already

raised, so there are tired legs in those boats. There are fresh legs in

the British crew. They will be called upon now. Psychologically

this is a real battle. Look at the black vote, just stalking up through

Great Britain. Now they have a target on the United States. The

stroke rate is three more than the British. That is a significant

amount. You are wondering whether the British are paying for that

first 500 metres. I am all for going out of the blocks as hard as you

can, so well done for them doing it, but you have to pace it. New Zealand

have done a very good job of that. Now the British nudge ahead. The

British have responded. It is a phenomenal, combination of girls who

have come together. Coming away from the European Championships has given

them a sense of renewed confidence. They are responding again. The

confidence from the European Championships will make them believe

that they can come from a position down. Now both boats are closing on

the Americans. That is about 150 metres remaining. It is very

unlikely that the British will get the Americans. But the British are

coming and up goes the rate. The Americans are tiring. Surely they

will not do this. The last few strokes. Great Britain get the

silver and they should be very proud of that, taking out New Zealand.

There was a moment 100 metres out from the line when the gold medal

was on. Fantastic racing from the British group. Sore legs. Perhaps

that took it out of them in the closing 200. There was a moment when

they needed one more push. I am not saying they are not right on the

edge because they absolutely are. They will come away from Lucerne

with their heads held high. This really is a benchmark because they

have beaten New Zealand who were silver medallists last year. They

took it out hard and they took it in hard, said that is brilliant. They

put themselves in that position and face the challenge of the Kiwi and

they've dealt with that and then charged on the Americans. They have

given the selectors the real headache going forward! There is

doubling up going on. The Americans are a class boat. They have had a

history of doubling up. They have the experience. But the British crew

look really good. They looked good in the first 500. But to be able to

forge on and not let their heads go down. That is really tough racing

and they should be pleased with that. When it has got tough, they

have answered the questions. They have got 68 days to sort the crew

out and make sure they are on the top of the podium at rear. Good on

them. Absolutely, it is a fantastic era for the women's eight. It is all

coming together. Not a bad day at the

Garry mentioned that has given a headache to the selectors. A superb

performance. A fantastic performance. I was disappointed with

the European performance of three weeks ago. Where they won. Where

they won, but they only beat fifth and sixth place, that was a bit more

impressive. We knew Canada was a bit shaky because they got beaten at the

first race by the Dutch. You thought the Canadians may not have adjusted

to the travel, but they did not have the pace here. The Americans were

doubling up, half the crew were doubling up, they have doubled up in

the history of them dealing the eighth. It is normally just two

girls, not half the boat. We know the Dutch were quick and the Dutch

got beaten by the Romanians. But there is a medal and I thought that

was a brilliant performance. After the European Championships British

rowing came out and said that Granger and Thornbury would not be

in the double, they will be considered for the eighth. How will

that have sat with those eight members of the crew who were

preparing for Lucerne at the time. Some will think, good, we have got

potentially stronger athletes coming in. But people will be thinking, it

might be my seat that is up for grabs by somebody else, and they

have raised their game. It will be difficult to change anybody within

that. As the commentator said, the selectors have problems. James and

Garry, this is not only a headache, how do you run a selection procedure

for an eight with less than ten weeks to go before the Olympics? The

coaches will have their gut feeling. They have an individual performance

parameters for the whole squad, so they have got those two draw on. I

do not think any of us expected the women's eight to be in this

position, that close to the Americans, a silver medal at

Lucerne. The eight can only get stronger. They have got to make the

right to change, but it is not as though you are going to lose people

to the women's double, you will gain people. What they have to do now, as

Steve said, they raised again for the European Championships to hear,

change or no change they have to have that believe that they can take

on the Americans for 2000 metres, not just sections of the race. Are

we moving the women's eight from a possible Olympic medal into a

probable category? Without a doubt. Zoe has got her place sorted. She

must be thinking, silver medal today, it can only get stronger.

They have to believe that from now on. In rowing terms, in sporting

terms, it would be a disaster from here if they do not get it. The

pieces are all coming together. Would the coach asked the cops which

boat felt best to you? Zoe will give feedback in all of that. It is one

race. They will have a lot of information. They have the

information in the ergometer from the winter. It will not just be the

flip of the coin in all of this and they will know. They cannot test it

in the vote right now but I think the selectors will have a good idea

about who the weaker rowers are. Without a doubt, I would be

seriously disappointed if that eight doesn't come away from the Olympics

without a medal. Just to jump in, yes, sometimes you can put stronger

athletes in, but it doesn't always make the boat go faster. There is,

Rhodri and spirit within a boat as well and that has got to be taken

into the occasion. -- camaraderie. Do you think that Vicky Thornley and

Katherine Grainger will be in the women's aid for Rio definitely? I

can't say definitely. On paper and on testing they are at the top end

of the team. That puts them at the top end of the eighth. As athletes

they are good enough to be in that group, but that doesn't always

materialise in boat speed. You would hope that putting stronger athletes

in, especially into an age where big ergometer scores count, that that

would translate into performance. Great silver medal, dominating the

Canadians in bronze, and I will cut it there!

I will hand over to the commentators. What a professional

you are! We turn our attention to the men's doubled. Two British crews

in this, Jack Beaumont and Nicholas Middleton and Jonny Watson and John

Collins. I know exactly what you were talking about! The bricks in

lanes number one and two. Martin Sinkovic and his brother in lane

four. New Zealand in five and Lithuania in lane and Lithuania

inlay number six. Again this is a very good set of results. Great

Britain have got two boats. Jack Beaumont has raced already, in the

bow seat in the quadruple sculls. Here he is with Nicholas Middleton

inlay number one. These guys are the guys for the future. They have had a

sensational last 18 months. Beaumont and Middleton. That in amongst it

they will get great experience. Watson and Collins was sixth in the

European champions recently and eight at the Worlds, but they need

to step it up because they have young bucks on their tail. Marcel

Hacker and Stephan Krueger from Germany, silver medallists, in the

middle of your picture inlay number three. The outstanding crew in a

multicoloured chessboard, the Croatians. They really have been the

crew to watch. Everybody is excited about what they are doing here in

the skull. Yes, the Croatian brothers are phenomenal. The way

they have dominated the field over 18 months is impressive. The British

doubles are young bucks, but the Croatians are the same age. As good

and young as the British boys are, they could be racing the Croatian

guys for the next ten years and at the moment they have ground to make

up. It is not surprising that Watson and Collins are leading at the

moment. As strong as Nick Middleton is, Jack Beaumont has already done

metres race already which will take some out. This is turning into a

decent scrap. The Croatians are being led by half a length. Croatia

valiant in the stroke seat. Martin Sinkovic in the bow street. Pressure

being put on them by New Zealand. The expectation in the middle 1000,

if you are undefeated, two years world champions... Actually in 2015

in the European Championships they pulled out. They won at the first

World Cup regatta earlier in the season. When they do race, they blow

the field apart. Coming up to the halfway mark, you would expect some

kind of fireworks now. The two time world champions from Croatia. They

need to turn the handle a bit. They are led into it by New Zealand.

Marcel Hacker at 31 the oldest guy in this line-up. The Croatians have

stopped the rot, if you can call being half a second down the rot.

They have held the New Zealanders leading into halfway. The third 500,

this is where they will push into the lead again, I think. Croatia

coming away now from Germany. Clearwater developing. They are

putting their own pressure on. Looking so much nicer from a

Croatian point of view. This wing of the backstroke and it runs nicely.

Marcel Hacker to the right of your picture. He looks relaxed. He is a

wily old character. World Champion back in the day in the single skull

and plenty of medals under his belt. Jonny Walton and Collins as well. I

think for New Zealand the goose is cooked. They are poking the big bear

with a stick. I think they will reap the anger of the Croatian crew. This

crew do not give you an easy ride. They don't just win. They show their

class. 500 metres to go and the Kiwis are holding up well. I expect

the Croatians will have clear water by the end. There is a fight here

but it will be a big turnaround for Jonny Walton and John Collins to

hang on. It is like they are fighting just to hang onto the pack.

The Germans alone another three and Lithuania in number six, they have

been out of the picture but they have been in amongst it for the

medals in the closing stages here. Out front, Croatia continue. They

are powering on. They have got the speed. They want to win by clear

water. We can compare where Great Britain is, slightly back on

Germany. Great Britain have got to watch out for Lithuania. Up to 41

strokes per minute, 300 metres out. Great Britain on 40, so brave to

take it on here. Support for Jonny Walton and John Collins, just to get

a good result psychologically for them. They have not had an easy time

over the last couple of years. They have cemented it again in this event

in this boat. Anything above fourth place would be a good result for the

British doubles. 50 out now. Croatia starting to ease off. They know they

have got control. New Zealand holding off from Lithuania, who have

been out of the picture, coming through and getting the bronze

medal. Germany starting to suffer in fourth place. There was too much in

the closing 50 metres for Jonny Walton and John Collins for Great

Britain. Jack Beaumont and Nick Middleton just suffering now. The

pain in his legs must be too much. They come over and finished now. We

are joined by three members of the women's silver medal winning eight.

How was that performance? Really good. We wanted to win the race, to

be honest, so we have that in our sights for Rio. That is probably the

best we have done against the world Olympic champions. Just if you

inches short of them. Polly, you were saying before the race about

your back and the injury and this has been a long road for this unit.

Sure. We formed quite late compared to some crews. We are relatively

new. Some girls including myself have been injured. So to be able to

form such a great unit, and it really is a great unit, is

tantamount to the girls, all nine of us and our coaches. We are

delighted, but as Jeff said, we want one better at Rio. The challenge now

is coming for this group of athletes, this group of mentalities,

that selection is up in the air again in the coming weeks between

now and Rio. Yes, there is a question of selection, but as we

have shown from this performance, this crew is capable of winning a

gold medal at Rio and I strongly believe that if the crew is made

stronger in the next few weeks, that is great, but if this is the

strongest crew we have, then I am really happy about it and really

excited for the next few months. What were you saying to the crew in

the last 300 metres? I don't know. I am cold to finish so we can go in? I

am still deaf in my left ear. Go quicker? You need to go and get your

medal. Congratulations. As they exit stage left, we turn our attention to

the man's single and one of the most enduring and passionate growers that

the men have. Alan Campbell. The men's single girls being chased hard

by Drysdale from New Zealand. The Olympic champion, the two guys here,

have dominated this event over the last ten years. Five-time World

Champion. In this third 500 metres, this is where we would really expect

him to push them hard. He knows how to work the third 500. As a world

and Olympic champion, he has the overlap and he is maintaining that.

He will hound the World Champion throughout this third portion. He is

looking over at Drysdale. Taking two more strokes a minute

than Drysdale. Drysdale has held Synek's move. My feeling is this

will be level with 200 metres to go. Both scullers working into a race of

their own. The bottom picture shows the speed of the finishing skull

Alan Campbell in a number six. If we can get a wide angle, we can see

where he is, but at the moment he went through the halfway mark in

fourth place. He will need to turn the screw. We are respecting a big

push from him. 1500 metres. The man's single sculls final. But at

the gap between the two leading scullers in the world right now and

Alan Campbell in bottom left of York screen coming through in fifth, so

well off the medals at this point. If he has a big 250, he might be in

contention with the Dutch skull, Broenik, who was 14th at the

European Championships three weeks ago. Synek has responded well.

Drysdale nearly closed in on. Drysdale's approach is this. It is

like a lumberjack chopping his way through a massive tree. 2000 metres

to get that treat down. You all start off at eight brochures pace

but the tree is starting to give and Synek will be crushed under it if he

is not careful. The Cuban is fighting it out for the bronze medal

alongside Broenik from the Netherlands in low number one. Look

at that face. Relentless from Drysdale. The Olympic champion has

clawed his way back. Now he is driving the nail in the coffin here.

Synek has given up. The pain that Drysdale is feeling, he is

inflicting more of it on Synek and he has broken Synek. This memory

will serve Drysdale in Rio and Synek will remember how he got broken, so

this is a massive nail in the coffin for Synek in Rio. Both scullers

easing off, and Drysdale knows that his first appearance in 2016 has

been exactly what was called for. He has nailed Synek of the Czech

Republic. Rodriguez gets the bronze medal. These three float over the

line. Alan Campbell, well, he is fifth, which is much better than he

was three weeks ago. And he went for it. Third place just before the

halfway mark. He went for it and found out where he is at. Where he

is at is not where he wants to be. Drysdale, Synek and Rodriguez in

first, second and third. I have written out Alan Campbell's

International results. Six, seven, four, five, second, third, third,

bronze in London, fourth and eighth last year. With that parabola do we

think it is beyond hope that he will get on the podium? It is very

unlikely, but reading at those results come he has been in our

sculling team for many years. Maybe as it is going the wrong way, even

though this is a good performance on the last couple of years, and it has

given him hope, I chatted to him yesterday and he is buoyant and

confident, but we have other sculling boat that are doing well.

Yes, I think it is impossible for him to get onto the podium. And a

word about men's sculling in general. As the senior member he

leads that team. How many medals should we expect from the single,

the double, the quad in Rio but? If we get one medal that would be a

fantastic result. You have got to put the quadruple at the top, then

the double and bend the single. Or on their day you cannot write any of

them off. Hopefully, fingers crossed, one quad medal. Let's turn

our attention to the lightweight men's doubles. William Fletcher and

Richard Chambers are in this. We talked to Richard. Has the hand

injury stalled any preparations? It has upset it a little bit, but it is

one of these things. Things knock you off course and you have to get

back on. It meant I could not do trials, but as soon as it happened I

got straight on the bike and I have been training whilst the rest of the

team have been prepping and doing trials. Your team-mates will suggest

the links you go to to miss the trials! Is there more pressure going

into the Olympics but in my in terms of selection this year it has been

less so because we formed ourselves as a good double last year and the

coaches had the confidence in us to carry that on. We have had through

the winter months the time in the doubled that we did not have last

year, so they are giving us every opportunity they can to go and beat

Olympic champions. That is a different kind of pressure. That

relationship that you built last year in the boat culminated in that

terrific final at the World Championships. It is France and

Great Britain. Do you feel you are better equipped now to move up one

step higher on the podium? Definitely. We went into the world

champions last year and we did not have a clean run with checkups and

injuries. Two guys sculling in two different ways and we were physical

and muscled the boat along. Now we have honed in on the finesse and the

technique, but also will has moved on physically. I have even more

confidence in my team-mate and that is great for me. Through the 1000

metres, the halfway mark in the men's lightweight double sculls.

That should scare the opposition. If you are breaking up a World

Championship crew, your new man has to be pretty good. If you are making

the best in the world better, this is what happens. The Norwegians have

had a good winter. The Norwegians do a lot of training with the

lightweight double and they are doing very well. The Irish

lightweight double, one of them is as strong as heavyweight. It has not

quite transferred into the boat yet, but it is looking very good. There

is still clear water from France over the former world champions,

Norway. This could be an extraordinary last 500 metres for

the British. France have gone. They can still be caught by the

Norwegians. They are in lane number four. The South Africans are in Lane

number two, both 29 years of age, both Olympic champions in the light

four in London. Fletcher and Chambers in five on the other side

of the course. Now they come to wards the closing stages. You can

see how the French have responded to Norway's push. The French are very

efficient. In the middle part of the race they will be fast and it has

not cost them. They are sending the message to the rest of the world.

Their technique has not changed. It is good to see if the Irish could

back up their European Championships. They are strong boys,

so we will see what happens. So France are out in the front and the

Irish are pushing on hard against Norway. It is silvered to Norway and

South Africa are taking the bronze. The Irish get for. It will be a

disappointment for William Fletcher and Richard Chambers, but remember

this is their first time out in this Olympic year. They have got one more

regatta in three weeks' time. On the day France win. They looked

devastating, a new combination. There are DOS lightweight offence

for the men in Rio. The lightweight men's four is the other one and they

raced this morning as well. Let's see how they got on.

This is where we watch in this third 500 who goes first and how you go.

Do you step up and increase the boat speed? You can start to see at the

top of your picture the French, the bronze medallists from last year.

They have been taken on by Switzerland, the world and European

champions. New Zealand are in Lane number three. They won the first

heat. You expect the heat winners, the fastest qualifiers in the final

and they are showing why they got first in the heat. The French knew

they had to take a risk early on and go out hard. That has not worked.

The Swiss are very good in the last half of the race. But they will be

disappointed to be a lengthy behind New Zealand. Great Britain are still

in fifth position. Netherlands are in Lane number six out of your shot.

Britain are forth now. 1500 metres remaining. New Zealand are out in

first. Chambers is in the stroke seat for

Great Britain. They will need a push to get through the Danes in Lane

four. Still pushing hard on the fireside, France in Lane number one,

the bronze medallists from last year. I think the Swiss will try and

close the gap on New Zealand. If they close the gap, that will give

them something to go for as they prepare for Rio. I do not think the

British will catch the Danes. On home water is Switzerland Lane

number two. They are responding to the cowbells, the traditional home

support noise. New Zealand continued to lead and Denmark is being put

under pressure from Great Britain in Lane number five. New Zealand are

out at front and they are coming up to the line. Switzerland being put

under a tremendous amount of pressure from Denmark. Denmark are

just shy and Great Britain are caught on the fireside by the French

and that is very disappointing for the British crew and their heads go

down accordingly. A tremendous result from New Zealand coming

through in fine form in that last 250 metres. 5.3 seconds is too far

off the lead. Paul Thomson is the chief coach of

the lightweight. A quick reaction to the men's double and four. It is a

good step, but that was not their best race today. Their heat was

better than that. Not quite the right rhythm, but we can do better

than that. An update on the women's lightweight double which is absent.

They were a bit cooked going into Brandenburg, but they are on a

recovery programme and we are looking for them to make their mark.

When did you take the decision about the women's double sculls? That was

after Brandenburg and part of the review. Strategically we have got a

fabulous women's here who could not race today to illness, but we are

looking to push into the middle with the two qualifying boat behind that

and the eight and the double. We are not going to talk about the

selection procedure, because the athletes have not been told, but

that has raised the question of where you not worried that the

women's eight were racing under a cloud because of the selection

procedure that is about to happen? Yes, of course, the athletes want to

have the best people in the boat and the best boat to perform in Rio as

well. Yes, I ensure it has been uncomfortable for some, but they the

bigger picture as well. When was the last time that Katherine Grainger

Road Suite internationally? Do you mean head of the child? No, I do not

mean that. It must be 2004. So we expect to see her in sweep capacity?

Her accumulated score is the best amongst the group that we have got

out racing in those boats. They have been training in sweep boats, so we

can get the groups together when we get back. I do not know if you can

answer this, but with the double skull, will that be put on after the

final of the eight? How will that come in? Clearly we will look at the

eighth and see where that gets to concede what happens with the

double. I am happy with the standard of those two boats, and I have got a

lot of confidence in those athletes, but we need to see where we get to

in the next few weeks. We sent Darren Campbell along to meet the

men's chief coach Jurgen Grobbelaar. Do you see yourself as a coach,

mental, manager? Maybe everything a little bit. You have to be a coach,

you have to be a manager and amend tour as well to give advice. You

have to be a psychologist, there are a lot of different parts that make

an overall good coach. In the sporting world, which coaches do you

admire? I was always impressed with Sir Ferguson. I think patients,

staying in that job, staying in football and managing that for 25

years successfully, I always think that is something challenging. Is it

one of the toughest jobs, managing egos yes, I think so, especially

when you are bringing guys together with different characters and

different strengths and weaknesses, I think that is a big challenge.

Could you give me three characteristics that helped to build

an Olympic champion? First, they must like the sport because doing

high-performance sport is not always sunshine. It is tough, hard work,

daily work, it is not just talking, you have to do it. The third thing

with all the pain and the problems, you should still have fun. If you do

not have fun and you are not finding the fun in your sport, and fun is

for me when you go home you are totally exhausted, that is why you

are here. That is part of the plan. You mention Sir Alex Ferguson

earlier. How does it make you feel when people call you the greatest? I

leave that to other people. The coach doesn't get any thing for

being the greatest. I have to do it again and again. I leave it to other

people. There are lots of other great coaches out there and you have

to be in the moment the greatest, not what you did in the past. Now we

can see is a man's eights loaded up on the starting pontoon for their

race. I will hand you over to James Cracknell and Garry Herbert. Thank

you. Russia in a number one, Great Britain in two, Netherlands in

three, splitting the great rivalry in this category over the last

couple of years, because Germany, European champions this year, are

number four. New Zealand five and USA in lane number six. The clatter

of the start and through the first 100 metres. 45 strokes per minute.

Maximum spread. The real exponents of doing that in the first 100

metres Germany. Germany found some form in the European Championships

but mainly because the British eight, Jurgen Grobler, he has the

engine out of the team that won gold last year and put it into the four

but still a pretty smart eight. Yes. Changes had to be made. We have

depth on both sides of the rowing and sculling equation. The bottom

line is that even with only one person out of the eight, you are

dealing with tiny margins. The good news is that if they can pull a good

result out here, that gives a huge amount of confidence going forwards.

New Zealand has problems. They looked good yesterday but not quite

so good in the heat. The Dutch had a stonking heat, so all to play for.

The Green vote of Germany is sitting currently in fifth position. --

green boat. The crew is settling into their rhythm. They have

switched if you people around. Tom Ransley has moved from seventh to

three. Matt Langridge has just come in after being ill. They are not at

100% in terms of full capacity but they will still be very competitive.

The assumption saying that it is that every other boat is totally

free from illness. When athletes are training this hard, on the

boundaries, pushing so hard, nobody will be 100% until they get to the

Olympics. You would be wrong to assume every crew is totally healthy

but at the same time you know that the British crew is not at full

strength. It is going to show. At the last Olympics, Germany were

undefeated through to London and won the gold. They are being pushed hard

as we reach the 1000 metres mark in the final at Lucerne. Great Britain

still in amongst it in fourth place. Not too bad for the British crew.

They can step up here. But in the race for lanes earlier in the

regatta, the Dutch beat the Germans. It was a surprise. We were saying

that nobody turns it on in the race for lanes but the Dutch did. The

Germans have got to do something here. And the Americans as well. You

mentioned the top four British guys in the four, and the top four

American guys are in the American four, and they have had a very good

second 500 and they are ahead of Germany, Britain and New Zealand at

the Dutch are having a great race. Different crews are finding their

form and they want to lay a marker down for the Olympics. How they do

in this regatta goes towards how they do in the heats for the

Olympics. The Germans thinking they might have it slightly easier with

the British not 100%, they now are being chased by Holland and America

as well as Britain and New Zealand so an interesting last 800 metres.

An Olympic qualification regatta at the beginning of this week for the

final booking, and the United States got that one and they are taking it

on. The crew is starting to come back on the Dutch. They are getting

closer. Starting to squeeze in an four, Germany, bringing with them in

two, Great Britain. Not over for the British in the medals but the

American crew, Austin and Robert, the stern pair, driving the crew

along. They know the fight is going on. The Germans are showing that

they don't let people get away. If they have had a good middle part,

they don't let them get away in the last and they will hunt down the

Dutch. The British came back on the Germans as we were watching the

Americans. They have stretched away, down to a third of a length. The

Dutch, the Germans, the USA closest to us and Great Britain in fourth

position. Change or no change, you don't want to be in fourth.

Especially against two crews that you haven't lost against in five

years. 75 out from the line-out. The Netherlands are holding on from

Germany. The Americans, what a sprint! They are going to come

through on the line from Germany! The Americans are pushing hard to

the line. But the Netherlands get the gold and Germany and the United

States of America will have to wait to see. Germany getting second, USA

getting bronze. Great Britain being pushed off the medal podium into

fourth, we think. Absolutely outstanding result from the

Netherlands. Earlier in this regatta they showed a bit of form and

everybody thought that was going to be fly and die, but they made a big

stab and a big mark in this final. Beating the Olympic champions to

boot. Walking round the boat park and seeing the Dutch eight warming

up, they are big guys. Powerful looking unit. The American chief

coach must be kicking himself, because if they had had their top

four athletes in the eight, they would be looking at gold medal now.

The German coach must be kicking himself thinking they have lost over

the last three years to Great Britain in this event, they have

taken their engine room out, and now we have got to contend with the

Netherlands! And the USA. You are right. A very rare situation. The

Germans have been challenged by us and they have responded and

responded. They probably saw the British are not 100% and we will

have it our own way this weekend and that does show what overconfidence

does. It means you don't come home with a gold or silver medal. Better

to learn that lesson here than in Rio, but the reality is that is an

experienced and they shouldn't have to learn that lesson. It will be

hard to call where the gold medal is going to go in this event in Rio. So

much happening from the European Championships three weeks ago to

hear at Lucerne. The Americans will probably go back and we won't see

them until Rio. They will not be around for Pozner and in three

weeks, the final of the World Cup regattas. Exciting stuff. A surprise

to see Germany not at the top of this. A surprise and I think the

British can take a lot of confidence from this. Yes, in fourth, not the

best, but Matt Langridge is in the seven man, rowing at four because he

is not 100% and he has been ill. And Pete is not in it at all. A couple

of gold medallists not in the boat, so they have strength to come back

from. They will have fourth place hanging over their heads, motivating

them for the next 68 days. Look how close the United States got. Just

off the Olympic champions from Germany. A third of a length over

Great Britain. On the day, the cloak of invincibility that Germany once

held, that Great Britain held over the last few years, it seems to have

been thrown away. Top of the pile here, the Netherlands, then Germany,

and USA have come to the party and Great Britain in fourth.

Steve, has the Netherlands winning that driven a coach and horses

through the rankings for Rio? Very much though. As they said in

commentary, the Germans will be thinking the British have not got

their top guys in it, so we have this in the bag, but obviously they

haven't. It always steps up in an Olympic year. The Dutch as a team,

across-the-board, lightweights, women and heavyweight men, they have

some really good athletes performing consistently and this proves it

again. They have a bit of history in the eight as well, if you Olympics

ago, but even in our time they have had an eight that has won an Olympic

gold medal. A lot has been made about Jurgen Grobler choosing the

men's four for the Olympic year, so is it too soon to say that his order

of votes is working or not? -- boats. One gold is worth 1000

silvers. That decision is made. Although fourth is a terrible

position to come, I don't think Matt Langridge is 100% fit because he has

been ill and he is not in his normal seat and Pete Reed isn't here. It

has shown the Germans are not invincible and I think the Brits

will take confidence from this. The guys that will be kicking

themselves, the American chief coach, who put his best four guys in

the American four, who got stuffed by the British and the Aussies, and

his American eight only just lost here. If Jurgen Grobler is

frustrated, you can have a beer with the American coach! What do you

think it's realistic to expect from those three votes, pear, four and

eight, in Rio? Jurgen Grobler is controlling all of this and he does

well at the Olympic Games and you guys know that. I think gold for the

four. They get so much speed when it goes to altitude. We have another

World Cup in three weeks, but definitely a high medal, silver at

least for the men's eight, and the men's pair, hard to call. Having

watched the boats crossed the line, you are an optimistic macro definite

silver? There is no definite. Not definite. Like to think they are

capable of at least a silver medal in the men's eight. I will have to

argue this later. Leave the married couple on the far side of the lake

to sort out differences! There is a conspiracy theory that Jurgen

manufactures the results, that he made you lose in the run-up to

Sydney and Athens. I don't think that he is doing that. Definitely

not. This is not the final World Cup race. There is another three weeks

and illness coming into this second World Cup at Lucerne, so it is not

all doom and gloom in disaster on the men's side. James said earlier

in the commentary that if you go out and raise, then you cannot use that

as an excuse. And then James has used it as an excuse! It is quite

difficult. The one person that is standing right behind you that we

should bring in at the moment is Helen Glover. We are going to talk

to you in a minute. You are going to race in the women's pair. Before we

talk to you, see how the event got on without you and Heather Stanning.

totally exhausted, that is why you are here. That is part of the plan.

New Zealand are in Lane number one. USA are in two.

South Africa are in Lane number six. It is a tough call, it would have

been a big decision to not want to race today. But if they had raced

and they had not performed, they would have had to give excuses. They

have made the tough corner, but there is nothing worse being a

whinge if it does not go your way. You don't want to be like David Hay

and moan about Vladimir Klitschko. They are being chased very hard by

the USA. Both of those women were in the Olympic eights. The Kiwis will

be doubling up in the women's eight later on. The American lead boat

will want to clear this race out early and then start to ease down on

the gas if they are to go again in the eighth. Yes, win this race, but

win it as efficiently as possible and that means by as little as

possible. We are coming into midway of the

third 500 metres. Denmark in Lane number one.

Rasmussen on that boat, plenty of pedigree in that family.

500 metres remaining in this final, the women's pair at Lucerne. They

pretty much lead from the first stroke. It is going to take a big

push from the New Zealanders to get back on terms. They are being pushed

hard by the USA. It is interesting the psychology. Glover and standing

were going in with 34 consecutive victories together at international

level. It was interesting, I watched this American pair yesterday and

they are riding so much better today and that is because the pressure of

Glover and standing is not there. When the cat is away, they have

started to play properly. If they can do this, they will be a lot

closer than they were earlier in the regatta. -- Heather Stanning.

And still New Zealand come up. The water is an absolute millpond. It is

fantastic as we come through the last 50 metres. It will be the

United States of America holding of New Zealand. South Africa are

pushing hard. Gold goes to USA and Silver goes to New Zealand. The

bronze medal goes to USA two. Helen Glover and Heather Stanning did not

start Does any of that lot who raced today

scare you? You would not be an idiot to not have any fear, fear scares me

and pushes me on. I do not go away from this weekend scared, I go away

a bit frustrated we did not get to race in our final, but that is a

decision we have to make today based on the fact that Heather had woken

up and she had eaten something that made her not feel well. We even did

our warm up. What kind of discussion did you have out on the water? It

was not a discussion. I said to her, I trust your opinion and I would

rather not race at all then race and not show ourselves in our true

light. The last thing we want is to get to one kilometre and say, I

should not have race. If there was any doubt, we said, let's not do it.

She did have the warm up and she said, I am not right. We needed to

push ourselves a little bit. She felt a bit sick and it was the right

decision. It was frustrating, it could not be avoided, it is one of

those things. Do you need that last World Cup race? Do you skip it? You

have beaten everyone several times over, what is left to prove before

Rio? I do not think we have anything to prove. Racing is something we

enjoy doing and something we aim for every year, but we can get that from

training. We have had a heat in a semifinal out here, we did not race

the semifinal. Any racing time is quality time and time that you can

learn about yourself. We have got another World Cup to come and that

is important. What was it like standing on the bank? In one way it

is frustrating, and I was pumped with adrenaline, but equally it is

strangely reassuring. The boat that one we beat yesterday and we did not

feel we had to do anything special. We have come away with a certain

amount of information. The final is where you can judge the other boats,

so we cannot say we did that. But we did raise our semifinal and we did

beat them. We have now seen all the likely crews that will be at Rio. We

have now seen everyone and we have not seen anyone doing anything

bigger or better than we thought. We are still on our toes and very much

in the frame of mind we have still got a lot of people to beat. Had you

put your thoughts about going into the games? You are going in as

Olympic champion. Have you thought about your mental part of the

process? The World Cup is a stepping stone to the Olympics, is there any

process to that? Definitely, one thing about the World Championships

is you have to practice to defend a title and that comes into play at

the Olympics. We see these races as stepping stones which is why you do

not see us getting too distraught by missing this race. We need to train

very well over the next couple of weeks. This is our block that gives

us everything we will be in Rio. We have got an incredible team around

us who help make these decisions easier and help us not question

them. You are getting married after the Olympics, what is more exciting,

the Olympics are getting married? It depends who is watching. If Steve is

watching, it is definitely the wedding. Good answer, well done. The

third World Cup will be coming up on BBC Two on the 19th of June and we

have got coverage of that. Straight after as it is the Diamond league

athletics from Oregon. After all that, if you have not had

enough sport, there will be time for something a little bit different.

Steve, I suppose one of the biggest stories that is circulating around

sport I do retests of Beijing and London and rowing has been mentioned

in dispatches in the Russian media. What do we make of all that?

Obviously there are rumours that they are testing samples and there

are supposed to be some positive ones. We just have to wait to make

sure that what is being rumoured in the Russian press is actually fact.

That may have an impact on our sport on one of the boats involved. That

will put a question over Rio. Every games I have been involved in there

are always drug issues, but this seems to be a step up to anything I

have been involved in before. James and Garry, how would you sum up the

British performers today? It is more realistic than the European

Championships because the major players are here. On a scale of 1-10

I would make it a six realistically. There were hardly any medals. We

usually come away with quite a few. That was high. If I had to put my

serious money on medals we get back from Rio I would say five with two

gold medal. We are in that kind of ballpark here, but we cannot

definitely do it. We are halfway there. I have got is on the medal

table in fifth with one goal, two silvers and the bronze. I have got

New Zealand at the top of the table followed by the USA and the Dutch

after that and Germany with only two silver medal. The other headline,

move the Rio Olympics over the virus. If you were an athlete now,

there is the drugs, the virus, the staging of the games, the water

quality. A quick answer. In every Olympics there is so much profile.

There is less on this virus and there was on the norovirus at the

other games. If somehow the stars can align, and the wait can be found

through, we should not forget that the Olympics can be absolutely

magical. Goodbye. Jessica Ennis-Hill is back on top of

the world. Adam Peaty wins gold. Nicola Adams has just made history.

Laura Trott is world champion. You might take a look at

the Viper ACR and think, "That's going to be

a handful to drive." The thing is,

you'd be absolutely right!