World champion Max Langenhan had to narrowly admit defeat in Oberhof, Thuringia. In difficult conditions in the ice track, the Friedrichsroda native only finished second behind Latvian Kristers Aparjods. In the first round, Max Langenhan braked shortly before the end of his journey in order to get an earlier starting position in the second round. His best time course resulted in seventh place.
The temperatures well above freezing point are affecting the ice channel in Oberhof. “It is very, very difficult. You notice immediately when you start driving that you are lying extremely heavy on the ice because the surface is so soft. There will be a time when the railway will be easy to travel on. But then it will all change,” said the world champion, 0.137 seconds behind after the first round. “I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all, because one or two of them benefited from their starting number and are ahead – and of course we’ll catch up with them in the second run. You just have to gamble a bit with this weather. I think that things will go very, very well in the second run.”
The overall leader’s tactics worked. Langenhan overtook all of his opponents, whom he let go in the first round. Only Kristers Aparjods managed to jump from 17th place to victory; he was allowed onto the track before Langenhan. Despite missing out on victory, Langenhan was satisfied with his performance. The Thuringian probably still started too late in the second round to win. “I actually didn’t expect that anymore, we’re now victims of the weather. The victory for Kristers is deserved,” said the 24-year-old.