Canada 1 sled piloted by Kallie Humphries and partnered by Mellissa Lotholz took gold in Lake Placid ahead of USA pairing Elana Meyers-Taylor and Lauren Gibbs.
The fast technical track in Lake Placid produced a thrilling opening race on the “Path to Peyongchang”. Twenty sleds took to the ice at the famous track in New York State which proved extremely challenging claiming two of the 2017 World Championships top ten ranked pilots who crashed out.
2017 World Champion Meyers- Taylor and Gibbs broke the start record in heat 1 posting a 5.34(s) which gave them the platform to finish in silver medal position 0.11(s) behind Humphries, the current Olympic Champion and Lotholz holding the gold medal berth. USA 2 piloted by Gruebel-Poser with Evans as her brake-woman moved into the bronze position just 0.01(s) ahead of the German pairing of Schneider and Buckwitz.
Austrian pairing of Hengster and Kleiser, who were 5th at the 2017 World Championships and ranked 4th in World Cup standings, crashed out dramatically in their first run, both athletes were up and walking following the crash but their race was over.
The challenging track claimed another victim with the Japanese pairing of Oshigiri and Kimishima, who were 7th at the 2016 World Championships crashing but passing the finish line so they gained valuable Olympic qualification points.
In heat 2 the top 4 sleds had a battle, with Germany’s Schneider and Buckwitz pipping USA 2 Greubel-Poser and Evans to the bronze medal by just 0.01(s), the battle royal for Gold did not disappoint with Humphries and Lotholz holding on by 0.03(s) over Meyers and Gibbs. This is becoming one of the most intriguing rivalry in bobsleigh for many years.
Current Junior World Champion pairing of McNeill and More of GBR finished 8th 0.03(s) ahead of USA 3, gaining very valuable Olympic qualification points.
The action now moves to Park City, Utah the 2002 Olympic track.
RacerReady will be reporting the results and views from the world cup races immediately the action finishes.
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