Cynthia Appiah and Melissa Lotholz Slide into Top-10 at Monobob World Cup Opener in Altenberg

ALTENBERG, Ger.— Canada’s Cynthia Appiah and Melissa Lotholz both took advantage of strong second runs to battle their way back through heavy snow fall into the top-10 at the World Cup monobob season-opener in Altenberg, Germany on Saturday.

Appiah (Toronto) scrapped her way to eighth spot with a two-run time of 2:01.65. Lotholz (Barrhead, Alta.) finished two spots back in 10th at 2:01.92.

The 34-year-old Appiah was sitting in 11th spot after her first blast down the highly technical 17-corner track but climbed three spots up the rankings with the sixth-fastest time in the final heat at 1:01.08.

“That first run was a little disappointing because I was having a solid run up until corner nine. In a snow race you never want to skid, but unfortunately, I did and it killed all of the speed I had built up from the start,” said Appiah, who posted top-three start times in both heats. “My starts were great today. My second run was much better. There are still some things that I would have liked to clean up but I’m happy with an eighth place to start the season.”

Appiiah has three monobob World Cup medals on the daunting Altenberg track and was also fifth at the 2021 World Championships on the German chute.

First race nerves may also have got the best out of Melissa Lotholz, who had a bumpy first rip down the 1,413-metre track.  The two-time Olympian, who spent the bulk of her time competing on North American Cup last season following a one-year hiatus from the sport, finished in 10th place with a combined time of 2:01.92.

Lotholz, who is one week removed from her 32nd birthday, was 14th in her first descent on Saturday, but clawed her way seven spots up the leaderboard with the seventh-fastest time in the final heat.

“It was great to be back on the World Cup again, to move up in the second run and especially to hand off the Canadian flag in the winner’s box to Cyn,” said Lotholz. “Both runs definitely had room for improvement. The ice proved challenging today for a lot of the field and personally not having been on the World Cup for a while I haven’t had many opportunities to drive great ice like this, so it takes a while to adjust as it’s way less forgiving. I’m excited for the challenge though, and to see what the rest of  the year holds.”

Germany’s Laura Nolte captured the gold medal on her home track for the second-straight season, winning with a time of 1:59.94.  Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz clocked-in at 1:59.96 for the silver medal, while Romania’s Andreea Grecu slid to third spot at 2:00.42.

The two-woman bobsleigh races will take place on Sunday in Altenberg. Cynthia Appiah will team up with new brake woman, Skylar Sieben. Melissa Lotholz will reconnect with her University of Alberta varsity track teammate, Leah Walkeden.

Complete Altenberg World Cup Monobob Results

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