Diez shocks the veterans by qualifying #1
Peyragudes, France- Rain and heavy fog have foreced the cancellation of the third day of racing at the Peyragudes 2Luxe Cup. Plans are for the race to go ahead as scheduled rain or shine. There was lots of racing action on Thursday in addition to Open downhill Skateboarding.
Mikel Echegaray Diez from Spain has earned the number one starting position in Street Luge qualifying with a staggering 3:03.060 run. He is the only competitor in any sport that recorded at time below 3:04 at Peyragudes.
The virtual unknown racer beat top veteran competitors like former World Champion Olivier Wagner (SUI), Yvon Labarthe(SUI) and former World Cup Series Champion Pete Eliot (GBR)in the process. With the strongest field assembled in many years, Saturday’s Street Luge race will feature 31 competitors.
Street Luge Top 10 Qualifiers
P Name Nat 1st Run 2nd run Best
1. Mikel Echegaray Diez ESP 3:03.060 3:03.580 3:03.060
2. Yvon Labarthe SUI 3:05.640 3:04.330 3:04.330
3. Peter Eliot GBR 3:04.560 3:06.040 3:04.560
4. Olivier Wagner SUI 3:06.290 3:04.610 3:04.610
5. Clement Peyrusaubes FRA 3:17.600 3:06.890 3:06.890
6. Roberto Marasca ITA 3:08.100 3:07.120 3:07.120
7. Nicolas Filiatre FRA 3:07.650 3:07.400 3:07.400
8. Miquel Jan Tarradas ESP 3:10.380 3:07.730 3:07.730
9. Greg Gerber FRA 3:08.270 3:13.300 3:08.270
10. Chris McBride USA 3:08.640 3:09.270 3:08.640
LeMans Start for Classic Luge
The Peyragudes organizers and IGSA race officials announced today that the Classic Luge race will be using a LeMans start in addition the the GP format that will have 16 competitors sprinting accross the parking lot, picking up their boards and then racing down the hill in a mass start format. There will be two heats of 16 with even and odd numbered qualifiers split into two groups. The finishing order of the first run will determine the start order of the second run. After the second run the top eight finishers in each group will move to the final heats and the bottom 16 will be place in the consolation group. The finishing order of the third runs will determine the start positions of the fourth and final run. Each riders final finishing position will be based on how they finish the fourth and final heat.
Kevin Bouaich from Switzerland is the surprise leader of Classic Luge qualifying after the 2nd ahead of Current World Champion Michael Serek (AUT) and veteran Craig Deltour (FRA).
Classic Luge Top 10 Qualifiers
P Name Nat Qualified
1. Kevin Bouaich SUI 3:06.550
2. Michael Serek AUT 3:07.430
3. Craig Deltour FRA 3:09.880
4. Cedric Robert SUI 3:10.000
5. Yvon Labarthe SUI 3:10.470
6. Maxime Rubi FRA 3:10.730
7. Fabien Prual FRA 3:11.660
8. Nicolas Filiatre FRA 3:11.740
9. Abdil Mahdzan MAS 3:11.780
10. Roberto Marasca ITA 3:12.200
Luginbühl Qualifies #1
Bettina Luginbühl on her way to qualifying 2nd. Photo Marcus Rietema
Former World Champion Bettina Luginbühl from Switzerland fended off a charge from Canada's Dasha Kornienko to earn the number one qualifiying position for tomorrows women's Downhill Skateboarding race. Dasha led after the first run and lowered her time considerably but it wasn't enough to fend off Bettina. Rebekka Gemperle from Switzerland will line up third.
Dasha Kornienko led after the 1st run but slipped to 2nd overall. Photo Marcus Rietema
Women's Downhill Skateboard Qualifiers
P Name Nat 1st Run 2nd Run Best
1. Bettina Luginbühl SUI 3:52.490 3:46.190 3:46.190
2. Dasha Kornienko CAN 3:52.380 3:47.040 3:47.040
3. Rebekka Gemperle SUI 3:57.650 4:09.980 3:57.650
4. Kristina Engstrand NOR 4:42.570 3:59.630 3:59.630
5. Verena Völkel GER 4:29.300 4:28.220 4:28.220
6. Eglantine Balland FRA DNS DNS DNS