A costly mishap in the final sector of the men's kayak final left all on the banks in disbelief as Australia's Lucien Delfour narrowly missed a spot on the podium.

The 36-year-old entered the final at the world canoe slalom championships on Friday as the fourth-fastest qualifier, with his sights set on taking home the gold.

Delfour, who won bronze in the event in two World Cup events in Europe this season, wasted no time putting his rivals on alert in the opening stages of the race. Advertisement

But with two gates left to pass through, his race plan turned on its head.

Coming into gate 24, Delfour began to position his boat to make a successful upstream turn through the obstacle, but knocked the pole as he passed through.

Not only did he clip the pole as he entered but also as he

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