Two-time European champions Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri were first in the rhythm dance with 84.84 points at the Cup of China on Friday in Chongqing.
Marjorie Lajoie of Boucherville, Que., and Zachary Lagha of Saint-Hubert, Que., were second with 81.53 points followed by Christina Carreira and Anthony Ponomarenko of the U.S. with 79.22.
Last year, Lajoie and Lagha led after the rhythm dance at the Chongqing Huaxi Culture and Sports Centre with a score of 82.02.
The Canadians were second after the rhythm dance in October at Skate Canada in Halifax, where Lagha fell to the ice, but they went on to capture a silver medal with 199.90 points.
At last year’s Cup of China, Toronto’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., overtook Lajoie and Lagha in the free dance and edged their teammates by 1.81 points for a gold medal.
Lajoie and Lagha experienced a breakthrough …