Nolte and Lochner spearhead German bobsleigh success in Winterberg
BySportsbeat
Updated 07/01/2023 at 20:38 GMT
Home fans in Winterberg had plenty to celebrate on Saturday with two German gold medals at the IBSF World Cup event. Laura Nolte started the day in fine style for the hosts with victory in the women's monobob, with Germany occupying three of the top four positions on home ice. A sublime second run by Nolte saw her capture World Cup gold on home ice ahead of America's Kaillie Humphries.
Laura Nolte - Germany
Image credit: Getty Images
Home fans in Winterberg had plenty to celebrate on Saturday with two German gold medals at the IBSF World Cup event.
Laura Nolte started the day in fine style for the hosts with victory in the women's monobob, with Germany occupying three of the top four positions on home ice.
A sublime second run by Nolte saw her capture World Cup gold on home ice ahead of America's Kaillie Humphries, who was 0.18s behind in second place.
Reigning Olympic champion Humphries finished just 0.01s ahead of bronze medallist Kim Kalicki, while Kalicki's compatriot Lisa Buckwitz just missed out on a medal in fourth.
Switzerland's Melanie Hasler had led after the opening run, though a sub-par second run meant she could only manage a seventh-place finish at the end of the competition.
Nolte said: "It was very exciting for me today. In the first run I made a huge mistake. That really annoyed me and I thought it cost me the victory.
"I honestly didn't expect to still win. I missed my fans and friends and family at the track so much last year - accordingly, I was super happy to see so many here today."
Meanwhile, Johannes Lochner piloted himself and Georg Fleischhauer to gold in the two-man bob, the duo recording the fastest start time and fastest run time in both the first and second runs.
Swiss duo Michael Vogt and Sandro Michel finished in second place, 0.14s behind Lochner and Fleischhauer, while Great Britain's Brad Hall and Taylor Lawrence sealed the third and final spot on the podium.
Lochner commented: "The joy is huge. That's how bobsleigh is fun, when we're in at the start, the runs go down well and then we're in front at the bottom.
"I really missed that in the last few years. Especially when now the spectators are cheering again at the finish."
However, there was disappointment for Olympic and world champion Francesco Friedrich as he and partner Thorsten Margis could only finish in sixth place.
It is the first time that the duo have failed to finish on the podium this season, while it is the first time Friedrich has not finished in the top three in Winterberg since January 2014.
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