Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup season ends with PyeongChang test event
Latvia’s Martins Dukurs won his eighth successive overall Skeleton World Cup title in Pyeongchang this weekend. The 32-year-old edged out home favourite Yun Sungbin by just 0.01 second in the final race of the season, securing the overall title by 39 points over Yun, who finished second once again.
In November 2017, Aleksandr KAS’YANOV of Russian Federation, competing in the Bobsleigh Men's Two-Man and Four-Man events, in which he ranked 4th and 4th, has been disqualified from the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, in 2014 by the IOC Disciplinary Commission chaired by Mr Oswald. Please note that such decision is subject to appeal to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS).
Latvia’s Martins Dukurs won his eighth successive overall Skeleton World Cup title at the Alpensia Sliding Centre in PyeongChang this weekend. The 32-year-old edged out home favourite Yun Sungbin by just 0.01 second in the final race of the season, securing the overall title by 39 points over the South Korean.
Dukurs’ brother Tomass took home bronze on the day but third place in the overall standings went to Alexander Tretiakov (RUS).
“It was an interesting challenge,” said Martins Dukurs after his win. “I wouldn’t say my second run was good or perfect, but at least better than the first.”
It is technical and really mentally demanding. It’s a very fun track.
In the women’s, Germany’s Jacqueline Lölling rounded out a stellar season with her third win, clinching the overall World Cup title for the first time. With under a year to go until PyeongChang 2018, the world and European champion set the first track record on next year’s Olympic course with a time of 52.75. 2014 Olympic bronze medallist Elena Nikitina (RUS) took second, her best result since November 2013. In a surprise result bronze went to Kimberley Bos (NED), her country’s first-ever World Cup podium finish in skeleton.
In the overall standings Tina Hermann (GER) took second behind Lölling while Mirela Rahneva (CAN) took third.
Defending Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold (GBR) was amongst those to praise the track. “It is technical and really mentally demanding,” she said. “It’s a very fun track.”
First overall victory for Friedrich; battle for women’s title
Francesco Friedrich claimed his first-ever World Cup title in the two-man bobsleigh on day two of competition in PyeongChang. Alongside brakeman Thorsten Margis he won by a margin of 0.30 seconds over Latvia, setting both start and track records on next year’s Olympic track. Germany II took the final podium spot.
Friedrich, a four-time world champion, wrapped up his season on 1,545 points. Second place in the overall went to the United States’ Steven Holcomb and Carlo Valdes while Won Yunjong and Seo Yungwoo (KOR) took third.
In a nail-biting finish to the women’s bobsleigh event, pilot Jamie Greubel Poser and brakeswoman Aja Evans (USA) snatched the overall title from Kallie Humphries (CAN) with victory in the final race of the season. Second place on the day went to USA II with Elana Meyers Taylor and Lolo Jones, who also finished third in the overall standings, while Alysia Riesling and Cynthia Appiah (CAN) secured their first-ever World Cup podium finish in third.
Greubel Poser and Evans ended the season just 14 points ahead of Humphries and Lotholz who had led the standings for the previous seven races.
Russia take four-man crown
The final day of competition, which also doubled as a test event for next year’s Winter Olympics, saw another fierce battle for the overall title. Pilot Alexander Kasjanov (RUS) and team won on the South Korean track in a time of 1.39.96, also securing the overall title. Rico Peter (SUI) came in just behind on 1.40.19, leaving them second both on the day and in the overall, while third place went to Latvia. Steven Holcomb (USA) and crew ended the season third in the overall.
