The ice channel in Winterberg is in a difficult condition before the planned toboggan World Cup this weekend. The conditions are too dangerous for some athletes. They canceled their participation. Including six German athletes.
Winterberg (dpa) - The Austrians have already left completely, the German two-seaters as well, and when looking at the weather forecast, even a complete cancellation does not seem impossible.
An ice channel that was as smooth as glass in spite of efforts lasting several days caused heated discussions on the day before the planned start of the toboggan World Cup in Winterberg in the Sauerland region. Some athletes have already canceled their start due to safety concerns, others are considering this. The organizers reacted after a meeting on Friday by moving the starts.
At this point, the three German two-seater duos were no longer on site. The World Cup leaders Toni Eggert / Sascha Benecken, the second-placed Tobias Wendl / Tobias Arlt and the Winterberg local hero Robin Geueke / David Gamm announced via Instagram that they would not start. The Bobsleigh and Sledge Association for Germany (BSD) supports this decision.
"Winning - that's what we want. But not at any price," wrote Eggert and Benecken, who had won the world championship for the third time in a row in Sochi last week: "From our point of view, the current ice build-up only allows a two-seater ride with a risk that is far higher than normal. We tried it ... ". Wendl and Arlt see an "extremely high and therefore incalculable risk", falls are "almost preprogrammed". Geueke and Gamm said that health is always the top priority.
They received backing from the association. "Since I am currently at the Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Championships in Altenberg, I cannot get my own picture on site," said BSD Managing Director Thomas Schwab of the German Press Agency: "But we have an experienced team of trainers and support staff in Winterberg on site, and together with the athletes they decided yesterday evening to cancel the World Cup start. They have our full confidence and we as BSD are fully behind their decision. "
The Austrian team even completely waives. "In our eyes, the track is not suitable for the World Cup," said the German head coach and sports director of the Austrian association, René Friedl: "The risk of falls and injuries is very high, especially in the lower area, I am responsible and I am not prepared to be healthy to risk my athletes. "
The organizers are puzzled as to why the train is in such a condition, but took action. The men now start from the women's start, the women from the original two-seater start. The two-seaters start with limited preparation. "A complete cancellation of the World Cup was never an issue," said Wolfgang Harder, spokesman for the FIL World Association. So far. Because if the conditions do not improve or even worsen by Saturday, this step will be discussed again.
Posted by Eggert / Benecken on Instagram
Posted by Wendl and Arlt on Instagram
Posted by Geueke and Gamm on Instagram
Press release from the Austrian association
