Justin Kripps second in Lake Placid, Justin Olsen with first podium finish in third

Lake Placid (RWH): Codie Bascue has won his first ever World Cup race: In front of a home crowd in Lake Placid (USA), the bobsleigh pilot from team USA celebrated his first victory in the racing series at the opening round of the 2017/2018 BMW IBSF World Cup. After two runs in the 2-man bobsleigh with his brakeman Sam McGuffie, Codie Bascue secured a 0.11-second lead ahead of the Canadian pairing of 2017 World Championship silver medallist Justin Kripps and Alexander Kopacz.
Third place in Lake Placid went to Justin Olsen/Evan Weinstock, a second 2-man bobsleigh team from the US. This marked Justin Olsen’s first podium finish as a pilot. Acting as a brakeman for Steven Holcomb, who died unexpectedly in May, Olsen won World Championship gold in 2009 and 2012 as well as Olympic gold in the 4-man bobsleigh in 2010.
Nico Walther of Germany, the previous day’s winner in the first 2-man bobsleigh race in Lake Placid, finished in ninth with his brakeman Kevin Kuske – recording the same time as his team mate, World Champion Francesco Friedrich racing with Martin Grothkopp.
After the second of eight 2-man bobsleigh races in the 2017/2018 BMW IBSF World Cup, the overall standings are now led by Codie Bascue (USA, 425) ahead of the athletes in joint second, Justin Kripps (CAN, 402) and Nick Cunningham (USA, 402). ©RWH2017

Photo: IBSF/Viesturs Lacis