From Altenberg, GER
(December 20, 2023) – Corinna Leipold edged out teammate Viktoria Hansova for gold in Altenberg as part of a German sweep of the top five positions.
Leipold trailed Hansova after the first heat by .09, with the remaineder of the field at least .34 back battling amongst themselves.
In the second heat the track was significantly quicker than the first, with everyone in the top 12 over a second quicker than their first heat. Leipold capitalized on that quicker track, as she was 1.41 seconds quicker than her first effort.
Hansova was .07 slower off the start, but otherwise had a good second effort. But Leipold was just a bit better, by .11 in the heat and by .02 overall to win gold over Hansova.
Leipold’s win was her second in three races to start the season. Hansova’s silver was also her second.
Behind the two gold medal contenders, Stefanie Votz leapfrogged teammate Sarah Schwab for bronze, while Schwab finished fourth.
Hanna Staub rounded out a sweep of the top five, .79 ahead of China’s Siji Song in sixth.
Michelle Toukan finished a season-best ninth, it was the American’s second best Europe Cup finish behind last season’s eighth place finish in Bludenz.
Great Britain’s Ashlyn Bland finished in 12th, .15 out of a top ten.
Alessia Gatti of Italy has the two quickest start of both heats, but struggled to put together a clean run in either heat and finished 15th.
Results:
| Pos | Name | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Finish |
| 1 | Corinna Leipold | GER | 13 | 5.81 | 5.82 | 60.24 | 58.83 | 1:59.07 |
| 2 | Viktoria Hansova | GER | 5 | 5.76 | 5.83 | 60.15 | 58.94 | 1:59.09 |
| 3 | Stefanie Votz | GER | 4 | 6.29 | 6.24 | 61.02 | 58.96 | 1:59.98 |
| 4 | Sarah Schwab | GER | 7 | 5.76 | 5.73 | 60.49 | 59.86 | 2:00.35 |
| 5 | Hanna Staub | GER | 11 | 5.90 | 5.88 | 61.35 | 59.27 | 2:00.62 |
| 6 | Siji Song | CHN | 9 | 5.80 | 5.77 | 61.68 | 59.75 | 1:21.43 |
| 7 | Qangqi Zhu | CHN | 15 | 5.72 | 5.72 | 61.92 | 60.52 | 2:02.44 |
| 8 | Julia Erlacher | AUT | 14 | 5.57 | 5.59 | 62.45 | 60.21 | 2:02.66 |
| 9 | Michelle Toukan | USA | 8 | 5.65 | 5.64 | 63.29 | 60.73 | 2:04.73 |
| 10 | Viktoria Dönicke | GER | 10 | 5.61 | 5.51 | 63.16 | 61.78 | 2:04.94 |
| 11 | Angel Osakue | ITA | 6 | 6.00 | 5.90 | 63.50 | 61.97 | 2:05.02 |
| 12 | Annelies van Dijk | NED | 2 | 5.81 | 5.98 | 63.73 | 64.65 | 2:08.38 |
| 13 | Alessia Gatti | ITA | 1 | 5.48 | 5.55 | 64.69 | 65.21 | 2:09.90 |
