Porshnev & Lazarev Upset Italians in Euro Champs

From Laas, ITA

(February 12, 2022) – Pavel Porshnev & Ivan Lazarev pulled the upset off in Laas, Italy, as they beat Patrick Pigneter & Florian Clara on their home ice in the European Championships.

The Russian duo entered the second heat in third place, behind the Italian teams of Pigneter & Clara and Patrick & Matthias Lambacher. Their second run of a 1:06.53 was the quickest of the heat to give them the lead with only the Italians to go.

First up it was the Lambachers. They were quick out of the gate, but had trouble through one curve with a large skid. That little mistake was enough to drop them down the order and out of the medals, as they eventually finished fourth.

That left Pigneter & Clara, the most decorated doubles team of the last decade. The Italians carried a .3 second advantage out of the start house, but as ice conditions deteriorated they couldn’t find grip through a few curves. Despite that, they were able to rally to make it a close race, though they finished .08 back in second place.

The win for the Russian duo of Porshnev & Lazarev was their first European title. Pigneter & Clara and Fabian & Simon Achenrainer rounded out the podium.

Results: