The Swiss bobsleighers are starting the new World Cup season under difficult conditions. The best pilot, Michael Vogt, will be missing until the beginning of January, but hopes are pinned on the new two-man sled.
06.12.2024, 04:30
06.12.2024, 06:31
SDA
In Altenberg of all places, where Michael Vogt crashed last winter and push athlete Sandro Michel was seriously injured, the bobsleighers will start the new season at the weekend. With Vogt and Michel, the best Swiss pilot and the fastest pusher will be missing. It remains to be seen whether Michel from Aargau will be able to return to top-class sport, Vogt is still recovering from an operation on his intervertebral disc in August.
The 26-year-old from Schwyz and 2023 World Championship bronze medallist will be testing his back in Lillehammer in the coming weeks - but above all the new sled from Swiss-Sliding. The "Neos" project, the construction of a new two-man bobsleigh designed to compete with the Germans' recently superior equipment, is entering the home straight. Initial measurements show that the new device is fast. It could therefore be used in the second half of the season. At the moment, Michael Vogt is also planning his World Cup comeback at the beginning of January in Winterberg.
In his absence, the greatest Swiss hopes are pinned on Vogt's partner Melanie Hasler. The 26-year-old from Aargau, a former volleyball player, finished on the podium a total of three times last season in the monobob and the doubles. Junior World Champion Debora Annen will also be tackling her first full World Cup season.
Follador and Rohner on the upswing
A leap forward can also be expected from the two pilots Cédric Follador and Timo Rohner. The 30-year-old from Engadin and the three years younger from Zug can be expected to regularly finish in the top 8. There will be a certain amount of pressure on them when it comes to defending their second starting place in the World Cup after Vogt's return.
The highlight will be the World Championships in Lake Placid in the US state of New York in March. As the World Cup team will not be making any other detours to North America, two World Cup weekends in St. Moritz are on the program in January.
