Slip-sliding Germans hang on to bobsleigh lead

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2006

CESANA PARIOL, Italy (AFP) — German favourites Sandra Kiriasis and Anja Schneiderheinze narrowly avoided a spectacular wipeout to take a reduced lead into the final women's bobsleigh heats.

Kiriasis lost control of the speeding sled and almost missed an exit before making it home for a total time of 1:54.93 sec, 0.08 sec ahead of team-mates Susi Lisa Erdmann and Nicole Herschmann.

"I thought, 'It's all over'," said the four-time World Cup champion and 2002 silver medallist.

"I came in the hoarfrost at the entrance of curve 11 and came way too high. It was a shock. I got the exit but after that I had to find myself again to come down.

"When you come into the hoarfrost it's like hydro-planing, you can't steer any more and lose control of your sled."...