Vitola Wins Women’s World Cup Finale in Sigulda

From Sigulda, LAT

(March 3, 2024) – In front of friends and family on home ice, Elina Vitola slid to gold in the season finale in Sigulda.

Vitola trailed only World Cup point leader Julia Taubitz going into the second heat after Taubitz had put down a track record time of 41.487. In the second heat, Vitola once again put down a clean and quick run to take the lead and solidify a spot on the podium for Latvia.

Taubitz was the last slider of the contenders off the top, but for what felt like the first time all season, Taubitz made a mistake early. A skid at the start, coupled with a few mistakes later in the run, dropped Taubitz off of the podium for the first time all season into ninth place.

Vitola’s victory was her first on the season after a pair of silver medals earlier int he year.

Behind Vitola, Anna Berreiter slid to a silver medal from fourth place in the first heat after a second effort that was only bested by Vitola and teammate Merle Fräbel.

Germany’s Fräbel lowered the track record set by Taubitz in the first heat down to a 41.472, which was enough to move up from ninth in the first heat onto the podium with a bronze medal.

For the fourth time in the 2023/2024 World Cup season, the United States’ Ashley Farquharson finished fourth, up from eighth in the first heat. Behind her was Sigita Berzina and Lisa Schulte, who rounded out the top six.

The race was contested using both the modified start order rules where the first heat, held on Saturday, saw Nation’s Cup qualifiers going fifth through first from their race then the seeded groups, then the remainder of the qualifiers. On Sunday, the top 20 went first, from 20th to first, then the remainder of the field from 21st back.

For the United States, Emily Sweeney finished tenth, one spot ahead of teammate Summer Britcher in 11th.

Elsa Desmond finished a season-best 24th after a handful of 25th place finishes earlier in the season.

Julia Taubitz had already won the overall title a few races prior to the season finale, and finished the season 243 points up over teammate Anna Berreiter. Berreiter’s podium finish was enough to keep her ahead of Madeleine Egle, who finished the year in third overall.

Elina Vitola finished the season in fourth, with Lisa Schulte fifth and Ashley Farquharson.

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