VIEDMA, Argentina. In an innovative incentive for the professional marathon swimmers, the organizers of La Patagones Viedma World Cup event in Argentina and the Maratona Aquática Internacional de Santos – Unisanta World Cup event in Brazil combined points from both races and gave the top finishers an extra cash bonus.

On the men’s side, there were no surprises who would take the top US$1,000 bonus.

Spyridon Gianniotis won both the Viedma and Santos World Cups in down-to-the-wire finishes, the first over Nicola Bolzonello of Italy and the second over Richard Weinberger of Canada.

The overall results:

1. Spyridon Gianniotis (GRE) 40 points, US$1,000
2. Richard Weinberger (CAN) 34 points, US$600
3. Evgeny Drattsev (RUS) 20 points, US$400
4. Chip Peterson (USA) 16 points, US$250
4. Christian Reichert (GER) US$250

On the women’s side, the Germans showed their strength with Angela Maurer and Nadine Reichert tying for first.

1. Angela Maurer (GER) 30 points, US$800
1. Nadine Reichert (GER) 30 points, US$800
3. Ana Marcela Cunha 26 points, US$400
4. Karla Sitic (CRO) 17 points, US$300
5. Cecilia Biagioli (ARG) 10 points, US$200

Richard Weinberger and Ana Marcela Cunha picked up a little extra cash with their 1.6K Negro River Sprint victories on Thursday preceding the Viedma World Cup.

Copyright © 2012 by World Open Water Swimming Association