Nolot and Pianosi Add to European Titles - Maeder Wins the Open Championship

Nolot and Pianosi reclaim European Titles - Maeder wins Open Trophy

Racing couldn’t have been more dramatic in the medal series day of the 2025 Formula Kite European Championships. With too many passes to count, a steady eight knots and smooth, turquoise water provided a perfect playing field in Urla.

Two Titles, Two Champions

The march through the quarter finals and semi finals was do or die for the 16 finalists on Monday: top two moved on, other two went home.

In the men’s fleet, Switzerland’s Gian Andrea Stragiotti was the last man standing from the quarter finals, making it all the way to the grand final. He was joined by Cameron Maramenides of Greece who made it through the semi finals.

 Italy’s Riccardo Pianosi started the first-to-two-wins grand final with one win, a reward for dominating the qualifying series. He only needed one win to be the champion.

 His antagonist, Max Maeder of Singapore, was looking for a fight, waiting all afternoon for the final.

It didn’t take long for Pianosi and Maeder to clash. In the first rounding of the grand final, all four riders dove into the weather mark, shoulder to shoulder, and Pionosi’s kite folded over Maeder’s.

Referees flagged the incident, and reviewed drone and camera footage. Pianosi received the only penalty of the grand final and the win went to Maeder, putting them both on match point heading into race two.

Despite a late charge by Stragiotti, Maeder held off a final gamble by Pianosi on the final downwind leg and floated two elegant jibes with the precision of a surgeon to win the European Open Championship. Pianosi in second was crowned the European Champion. Stragiotti is the European silver medalist and Maramenides received the bronze medal.

“I was in a good position for the upwind mark but unfortunately the other two were very close and I couldn’t make the best jibe, but that’s the race,” said Pianosi about the defining incident of the grand final. “Max had an amazing race, he sailed clear especially in that first race and I’m happy for him.”

Maeder praised his co-competitors for a week of intense racing. “It’s a really great experience to have outstanding competitors,” said Maeder. “I was pushed to my limits by the people around me, Riccardo especially. They bring out the best in me.

Nolot Back in Love 

Lauriane Nolot of France and Lily Young of Great Britain waited patiently in the Grand Final for Lysa Caval of France and Catalina Turienzo of Argentina.  The two riders blitzed the quarter finals and semi finals to make it to the finals.

Turkiye’s Derin Atakan had her hands on a ticket to the grand final, running second in the semi finals on the last downwind until a small but painful crash dashed the local’s hopes for a podium finish.

Leading into the finals Nolot had one win already, and, like Pianosi, could take the championship in the first race.