Coach René Spies announces German team for BMW IBSF World Cup
Königssee (RWH) Without Stephanie Schneider, the overall World Cup winner 2020 in 2-woman Bobsleigh, and Junior World Champion Richard Oelsner, the German bobsleigh team will kick-off the BMW IBSF World Cup 2020/2021.
After the final qualifying races, the German Championships at Königssee, national coach René Spies announced the qualified athletes in a report by the German federation BSD (Bob- und Schlittenverband für Deutschland).
According to the announcement, the newly crowned German Champion Laura Nolte and World Championship runner-up Kim Kalicki will participate in 2-woman Bobsleigh. Olympic Champion Mariama Jamanka secured the third German World Cup spot for the World Cups in Sigulda (LAT, 20-22 / 27-29 November) and Innsbruck (AUT, 11-13 December). At the second World Cup in Innsbruck (18-20 December), Stephanie Schneider will compete instead of Jamanka. Depending on the results, the coaches will decide whether the pilots will have a selection race for the second half of the season after Christmas on the World Cup track in Altenberg.
World Champion Francesco Friedrich and World Championship runner-up Johannes Lochner have already been seeded for the BMW IBSF World Cup. Quota spot number three in the 2-man Bobsleigh went to the new German Champion Christoph Hafer for the first three races. On the second Innsbruck World Cup weekend the team of Hans-Peter Hannighofer will join Friedrich and Lochner. The U23 European Champion in 4-man Bobsleigh will then celebrate his World Cup debut.
Junior World Champion Richard Oelsner, who was as good as qualified ahead oft he last race, suffered an injury at the start of the first run in Königssee. According to the BSD, the 25-year-old pilot will be out of the BMW IBSF World Cup at least for the first half of the season. ©RWH2020
Photos: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis
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