Gaitiukevich Wins EC 2-man Finale, Tentea EC Championship

January 30, 2020 ken Bobsled News, News 0

From Igls, AUT

Jan. 30, 2020 – Rostislav Gaitiukevich won the European Cup 2-man season finale ahead of a massive field in Igls.

The Russian team of Gaitiukevich and Mikhail Mordasov had the fastest push in both heats on their way to a .14 victory over Latvia’s Ralfs Berzins.

The win was the first 2-man gold medal for the Russian.

Berzins led a Latvian 2-3-4, with Oskars Melbardis and Davis Kaufmanis joining Berzins in the top four. Simon Friedli finished fifth.

Tying for sixth were Richard Oelsner and Mihai Tentea.

Tentea’s tie for sixth was just enough to give him the 2-man European Cup title by just five points over 2-man Olympic bronze medalist Oskars Melbardis, making Tentea the first Romanian to win a season title in any sliding sport since Nicolae Istrate during the 2009/2010 4-man North American Cup season.

The race had a massive field, with 43 sleds taking a time in the first heat. Sam Moeller led the way for the United States with a 33rd place finish. Frank Del Duca finished 35th and Tyler Hickey 38th, it was the first race in Igls for all three as pilots.

James Brown was the top-finishing British slider in 29th. Adam Baird finished 34th and Ashley Morris 39th.

Results:

Pos Names Nation Bib Start 1 Start 2 Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Gaitiukevich / Mordasov RUS 11 5.16 5.13 52.08 5.07 1:44.15
2 Berzins / Springis LAT 9 5.17 5.13 52.17 52.12 1:44.29
3 Melbardis / Dambis LAT 5 5.28 5.23 52.14 52.16 1:44.30
4 Kaufmanis / Kleinbergs LAT 14 5.19 5.14 52.24 52.07 1:44.31
5 Friedli / Jones SUI 4 5.20 5.14 52.16 52.17 1:44.33
6 Oelsner / Bosse GER 8 5.27 5.26 52.24 52.25 1:44.49
6 Tentea / Daroczi ROU 12 5.27 5.24 52.26 52.23 1:44.49
8 Cipulis / Bebriss LAT 25 5.24 5.23 52.35 52.19 1:44.54
9 Illmann / Strauss GER 7 5.26 5.23 52.26 52.31 1:44.57
9 Hannighofer / Hertel GER 6 5.24 5.22 52.30 52.27 1:44.57
11 Zielasko / Lüthcke GER 22 5.17 5.18 52.44 52.28 1:44.72
12 Jannusch / Gessenhardt GER 13 5.25 5.24 52.41 52.35 1:44.76
13 Sun / Ma CHN 27 5.30 5.31 52.59 52.45 1:45.04
14 Baumgartner / Verginer ITA 17 5.33 5.32 52.54 52.58 1:45.12
15 Moulinier / Nikpalj SUI 26 526 5.29 52.63 52.53 1:45.16
16 Shinohara / Kaneko JPN 20 5.34 5.32 52.58 52.60 1:45.18
17 Follador / Schläpfer SUI 18 5.28 5.35 52.43 52.78 1:45.21
17 Kuzmenko / Kozlov RUS 32 5.20 5.23 52.64 52.57 1:45.21
19 Rohner / Moser SUI 10 5.32 5.33 52.63 52.74 1:45.37
20 Bredikhin / Gryaznov RUS 21 5.28 5.28 52.66 52.76 1:45.42
21 Sasaki / Murakami JPN 29 5.28 52.77
22 Stephens / Turgott JAM 24 5.40 52.83
23 Bindilatti / Martins BRA 2 5.38 52.84
23 Linhares / Jeronimo BRA 19 5.31 52.84
25 Dobes / Prochazka CZE 30 5.28 52.86
26 Geiger / Mandlbauer AUT 33 5.41 52.90
27 Radenovic / Novakovic SRB 3 5.50 52.92
28 Ji / Park KOR 16 5.39 52.97
29 Brown / Letts GBR 15 5.43 53.01
30 Variola / Ughi ITA 28 5.28 53.04
31 Voloskov / Baklanov RUS 34 5.42 53.08
32 Takahashi / Nishida JPN 38 5.33 53.21
33 Moeller / Niederhofer USA 36 5.26 53.28
34 Baird / Joseph GBR 1 5.49 53.33
35 Del Duca / Mustard USA 23 5.39 53.37
36 Taborsky / Trebichavsky SVK 37 5.49 53.87
37 Silic / Krajisnik CRO 31 5.47 53.88
38 Hickey / Jordan USA 44 5.57 54.06
39 Morris / Waite GBR 41 5.67 54.10
40 Kranz / Beck LIE 42 5.76 54.26
41 Kaiser / Volgger AUT 43 5.59 54.30
42 Nicolls / Lapp ISR 35 6.29 55.13
43 van Hauwermeiren / Hanjoul BEL 39 5.40 56.65
DNS Volgger / Poettinger AUT 40 DNS