Russia Wins World Champs Team Relay

From Winterberg, GER

(Jan. 27, 2019) – Everyone assumed that Germany would win the gold medal in the Team Relay. The Germans were starting all three world champions and were on home ice. It should have been a victory lap.

It wasn’t.

Russia’s team of Tatyana Ivanova, Semen Pavlichenko and the duo of Yuzhakov & Prokhorov set down a seriously quick run, pulling well ahead of the Austrian squad of Hannah Prock, Reinhard Egger, and Steu & Koller with just Germany to go.

Natalie Geisenberger set a time just slightly ahead of Ivanova. Felix Loch struggled on his run and left a half-second disadvantage for Eggert & Benecken to try to make up. The doubles world champions closed the gap between themselves and the Russians, but didn’t have enough track to make up the ground needed.

Russia finished with the gold medal, and Austria held off Germany for silver, while Germany would settle for gold.

Canada continued putting forth some great efforts in the Team Relay. They finished fifth despite not having any athlete finish in the top ten in any of their respective races.

The United States came into their relay with what seemed like a solid chance at a medal. As a team they couldn’t quite keep pace with the field, and finished sixth.

Results: