IWSA WingFoil Racing - Two new world champions crowned in Istanbul

A day of drama on the Bosphorus produced two new world champions as Italy’s Alessandro Tomasi and France’s Vaina Picot claimed the men’s and women’s Formula Wing titles in a thrilling finale to the World Championships in Istanbul.

The day began with a long distance ‘Golden ticket’ race – the male and female winners taking up the last two places in the Medal Series. Spain’s Alberto Citzia and China’s Liuyi Xiao claimed the victories.

The men’s quarter-final immediately raised the temperature, with Citzia – still fired up from his qualification - disqualified after failing to give another rider enough room on the start line. The Spaniard had crossed the finish first, but the penalty handed victory to France’s Thomas Proust, who progressed to the semi-final alongside Italy’s Gregorio Pugliese.

There was more drama at the start of the semi-final as the fleet became too tightly packed.

France’s Julien Rattotti was forced to brake and change course, while Poland’s Kamil Manowiecki took evasive action. Neither rider could recover from the incident, leaving Pugliese and Proust to fight for the place in the Grand Final.

This time it was Pugliese who took the victory, joining compatriots Tomasi and Francesco Cappuzzo in the decisive race.

- Francesco Capuzzo (ITA) rues what might have been

As the two highest qualifiers, Tomasi and Cappuzzo began the Grand Final with a crucial one-bullet advantage. The first rider to claim two race victories would be crowned world champion.

Cappuzzo made the early tactical move, heading left in search of stronger pressure. But Tomasi found the better breeze on the right and quickly established the lead.

The 23-year-old from Lake Garda steadily extended his advantage and never looked back, crossing the finish line to secure the biggest title of his career.

“I feel amazing. Winning the world title is amazing. I’ve won other events and they were also important to me but crossing the line first in a world championship is something else,” said Tomasi.

Cappuzzo had to settle for silver for the second successive year, but there was no bitterness towards his team-mate and training partner. The Italian embraced Tomasi on the finish line before reflecting on another near miss.

“Of course I’m disappointed missing out again but losing to Ales makes it a bit less bitter. He’s a great guy and won a good race. I gave my all and feel so good physically right now that I can’t be sad. After all it’s a silver medal at the worlds!”

Proust completed the men’s podium with bronze, adding another major medal to his continental success earlier in the season.

The women’s competition produced its own share of surprises, with China’s Meijuan Xiao and France’s Kylie Belloeuvre making a stunning start to the medal series.

The pair stormed through the quarter-final in first and second, but the semi-final was again overshadowed by an incident on the start line. China’s Yana Li brought down Aimilia Kosti, and despite a determined attempt to recover, the 2025 bronze medallist from Greece could not get back into contention.

Xiao and Belloeuvre took full advantage to reach the Grand Final, where they faced the two highest qualifiers - France’s Picot and defending champion Maddalena Spanu of Italy.

Picot had dominated the championship, but it was Spanu who made the better start and led the fleet away.

Downwind, however, Picot produced the decisive move. The French teenager seized the lead and, displaying the composure she had shown throughout the week, held on to become world champion.

Picot had battled health problems throughout the championship but still managed to maintain her remarkable consistency in Istanbul.

“I’m very proud of my performance here. The wind was shifty and gusty all week but I still managed to race well. I’m very happy for the French team too to win three medals here in Istanbul”

Spanu took silver after another intense battle with her French rival.

“The silver medal at a World Championship is something to be happy about. I battled hard with Vaina and it has been an intense and challenging week here in Istanbul.”

With Picot and Tomasi taking gold, Cappuzzo and Spanu silver, and Proust and Belloeuvre bronze, the medals were shared between Italy and France in a fitting finale to a championship that repeatedly delivered high drama on the Bosphorus.