Sigulda (RWH/IBSF) The second stop of the Europe Cup Tour closed the IBSF race calendar 2015. For the first time since four years and for the first time ever with a combined race weekend for bobsleigh and skeleton athletes the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation visited the icetrack in Sigulda, Latvia.
At the women’s skeleton competition Canadian Mirela Rahneva won both races. The second place was taken by Russian Anastasia Shlapak at the first race and by German Anna Fernstädt in the second race. Third place at both races went to Janine Becker from Germany.
At the men’s competition Russian Alexander Mutovin won the first Sigulda skeleton race followed by his teammate Sergey Chudinov and the host nation representative Ivo Steinbergs (LAT). On the second day Ivo Steinbergs surprisingly took the first place followed by Russians Chudinov and Mutovin.
In two man bob both victories went to athletes from host nation Latvia. In first race won Ugis Zalims, followed by Maxim Andrianov from Russia and Oskars Melbardis (LAT). World Championships silver medallist Melbardis then won the second race, followed by his teammates Oskars Kibermanis and Ugis Zalims.
Winner of both races in women’s bob was Alexandra Rodionova. Nadezhda Sergeeva and Elizaveta Zubkova (all RUS), daughter of Olympic Champion Alexander Zubkov, ranked second and third, respectively.
Last time the IBSF athletes raced in Sigulda was at the 2011 skeleton Intercontinental Cup. Venue for the skeleton World Cup the 1.420 meter long Latvian track, 50 km northeast from the capital Riga, was in December 2005. The female bobsleigh athletes held a World Cup race in Sigulda in February 2004, that as race-in-race also counted as European Championships.