With a European Championship medal at the home World Cup?
Bob-Hope Vogt drives for funding
From the European Championships in Altenberg directly to the World Championships in St. Moritz. The Swiss team leader Michael Vogt can refine his season with medals in the next few weeks.
Published: 13 minutes ago
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Bob hopeful Michael Vogt: Over the next three weekends, the Schwyzer will be competing for European and World Championship medals.
Matthew Dubachreporter sports
These are the hottest weeks of the season in the Eiskanal. This weekend in Altenberg (De) the European Championship medals will be awarded as part of the World Cup races – directly afterwards the World Championships in St. Moritz will follow with two weekends full of medal decisions.
Has the Swiss team leader Michael Vogt (25) ever practiced climbing the podium in Altenberg for the home World Championships? “The medals are definitely the goal,” says the Schwyzer and means both the European Championship and the World Cup. Because Vogt is consistently among the best in the world this season. Especially in the small sled: Three podium places in four World Cup starts. In a foursome there are three top 5 places.
The EM is also about money
The fourth at the Olympics says: “As a team, we were able to improve many small details. Especially at the start we were able to improve. As a result, I can sometimes afford to make a mistake on the train.”
But the hot medal weeks are also the time for tactics. All Swiss teams skipped the first World Cup round in Altenberg last weekend and trained for the World Cup in St. Moritz.
Why wasn’t the European Championship left out for even more training sessions on the home track? Because it’s about coal. A European Championship medal is relevant for Swiss Olympics funding. But Vogt also says: «I need a change. Driving on the same track for too long doesn’t do me any good.” The detour to Altenberg is intended to clear the Swiss hopeful’s head for the big hit in the Engadin!
For women, Vogt’s girlfriend Melanie Hasler (24) has outsider chances on the podium in the mono and two-man bobsleigh.