The World Championships for bobsleigh and skeleton will take place in Lake Placid from March 1 to March 16, featuring intense competition on a challenging 20-curve track. Athletes will compete in four runs, with events beginning on March 6. German competitors, including defending champions Francesco Friedrich and Laura Nolte, aim for victory. Fans can watch live on Sportschau.de, with highlights on ZDF. The championships promise thrilling races, with top contenders in both bobsleigh and skeleton events.
The World Championships in Lake Placid are just around the corner, marking the pinnacle of the season for athletes competing in bobsleigh and skeleton events. At the recent World Championship held in Winterberg, Germany showcased its dominance by clinching five gold, two silver, and five bronze medals. In this article, we address the key questions regarding the upcoming races in Lake Placid.
When and Where Will the World Championship Occur?
From March 1 to March 16, the elite athletes in bobsleigh and skeleton will battle for coveted World Championship titles at the Olympic bobsleigh track on Mount Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid.
What Makes the Lake Placid Track Unique?
The Lake Placid track is renowned as one of the world’s most intricate and challenging ice courses. It features a total of 20 curves, making it the most curved track on the World Cup circuit. Curve 14 is particularly thrilling, where athletes reach speeds exceeding 120 km/h. This will be the tenth occasion that Lake Placid hosts the World Championship, a venue that previously welcomed the Olympic Winter Games in both 1932 and 1980.
How Does the World Championship Format Differ from a Standard World Cup?
Unlike a typical World Cup weekend, where winners are determined over two runs, the World Championship introduces a more intense format. Athletes will compete in four runs before a new world champion is crowned at the end of the events.
What is the Schedule for the World Championship?
Following the initial training days, the competition kicks off in earnest on March 6 (Thursday) with the skeleton athletes taking their first runs. The schedule also includes the men’s monobob, two-man bobsleigh races, and the mixed team skeleton event, concluding by Sunday.
While the bobsleigh and skeleton competitions unfold in Lake Placid, Nordic athletes will be vying for medals in Trondheim, with Alpine and biathlon events also taking place.
In the second week, thrilling decisions will be made in the women’s two-man bobsleigh and men’s four-man bobsleigh events.
Where Can You Watch the Competitions?
Fans can catch the action live on Sportschau.de, with select events also being broadcast on television. Notably, ZDF will air the highlights over the weekend of March 15 and 16.
Which German Athletes Will Compete?
The following German athletes are set to participate in the championships:
Jacqueline Pfeifer (RSG Hochsauerland)
Susanne Kreher (BSC Sachsen Oberbärenburg)
Hannah Neise (BSC Winterberg)
Christopher Grotheer (BRC Thüringen)
Axel Jungk (BSC Sachsen Oberbärenburg)
Felix Keisinger (WSV Königssee)
Laura Nolte (BSC Winterberg)
Lisa Buckwitz (BRC Thüringen)
Kim Kalicki (TuS Eintracht Wiesbaden)
Johannes Lochner (BC Stuttgart Solitude)
Francesco Friedrich (BSC Sachsen Oberbärenburg)
Adam Ammour (BRC Thüringen)
Who Are the Defending Champions?
Last year, record-holder Francesco Friedrich further solidified his legacy by capturing his 15th and 16th World Championship titles. Laura Nolte clinched gold in the monobob, while Lisa Buckwitz emerged victorious in the women’s two-man bobsleigh event. In the men’s skeleton, Christopher Grotheer enters as the reigning world champion, and he also secured gold in the mixed team event alongside Hannah Neise. In a surprising turn, Canadian Hallie Clarke took the title in the women’s competition.
Who Are the Leading Contenders in Bobsleigh?
Germany’s bobsleigh athletes are at the forefront of the sport. Aside from Friedrich, Johannes Lochner has consistently performed well, standing on the podium in all eight World Cup races this season. Meanwhile, Lisa Buckwitz dominates the women’s monobob category and is a top contender for gold alongside Laura Nolte and Kim Kalicki in the two-man bobsleigh.
Who Are the Favorites in Skeleton?
In the men’s skeleton, the British team, led by overall World Cup champion Matt Weston, is favored to excel. Weston has reached the podium in seven out of eight races this season. At the same time, Christopher Grotheer, the German defending champion and Olympic winner, aims for his fourth World Championship title. In the women’s category, Janine Flock, the overall World Cup winner this season, has the chance to make history by securing the first Austrian World Championship gold in women’s skeleton.