Lizzy Yarnold and Shelley Rudman showed what Britain are capable of at next month’s Olympics as they stood on the women’s skeleton World Cup podium together in St Moritz – however they were no match for American Noelle Pikus-Pace.
Yarnold headed to St Moritz as the World Cup leader with three wins, a second and a third from the five races this season while Rudman travelled third overall, although her best finish was fourth in the opening two rounds in Calgary and Park City.
However that trend changed in Switzerland as both shared the podium with Yarnold’s fine form continuing with silver while Rudman finally broke into the top three and took bronze after a storming second run which produced a track record.
Rudman, equal third with Janine Flock after run one and back at the track where she won world gold last year, clocked 1:09.95minutes however American Pikus-Pace went 0.04 seconds better for a new track record herself to pull level with Yarnold on three wins for the season.
Pikus-Pace won by 0.40 ahead of Yarnold with just 0.04 then separating her from teammate Rudman, who built an advantage of 0.31 over Austrian Flock having both been equal on 1:10.37 after the first run in St Moritz.
However there was a hint of disappointment for Britain as Rose McGrandle’s hopes of securing the nation a third quota place for the Sochi Olympic Winter Games were dented as she placed 23rd, not qualifying for a second run.
© Sportsbeat 2014