PARK CITY — When it comes to races that are decided by hundredths of seconds, a single mistake or a sudden burst of wind can mean the difference between a podium and middle of the pack.
In a competition that included several surprises, Canada's No. 2 sled, driven by Lyndon Rush, won the four-man event with a combined time of 1:36.43. Latvia's No. 1 sled, driven by Janis Minins, tied Russia's sled No. 2, piloted by Dmitry Abramovitch, with a time of 1:36.45.
The U.S. team did well in the first run, with all three sleds finishing in the top five. Then came the wind. The sudden bursts of cold wind and snow rocked some of the sleds and then almost as suddenly as the gusts started, they stopped.
Unfortunately for the USA's No. 1 sled driver Steve Holcomb, it was only one of the night's unfortunate events.
"I made a mistake in the sled and that pretty much cost us the race," said Park City's Steven Holcomb, the driver for USA1, otherwise known as the Night Train. "I stumbled getting into the sled...that's racing."
Holcomb won the first gold medal for the U.S. in bobsled since 1959 last March and is heavily favored going into an Olympic year. Defending Olympic gold medalist Andre Lange, Germany, is dealing with a strained groin muscle and actually started the race in the bobsled.
"We're all competitors, but we're also friends," said Holcomb. "It's hard to see anyone get hurt. But he'll be ready for the Olympics. His team pushed a 5.07 with him in the sled. He will be better and they'll be at the Olympics."
Lange's chances of making Germany's Olympic team are seriously jeopardized by the injury, which meant a 17th place finish Saturday.
The weather, Holcomb said was just part of the challenge for his team Saturday. In reality, he said, him slipping was a bigger issue and the reason for the seventh-place finish with a time of 1:36.62.
"The guys are fast, but if I don't get in, they don't get in," he said. "It was a simple mistake on our home track."
The mistake will not be something he and his teammates will dwell on.
"We just have to move onto the next race," he said. "Move on and build on it."
Even with the middle-of-the-pack finish, Holcomb, whose team had a streak of eight wins in its last eight runs before Saturday night, said it could have been worse.
"If we came out and had a perfect race and we were last, that might dampen our spirits."
The USA's No. 2 sled, driven by Todd Hays finished sixth, after earning the first-round's fastest time. Team Hays' finish time was 1:36.58. The No. 3 team, driven by John Napier, was eighth in a combined time of 1:36.74.
"I am still really happy, especially with the first run," said Napier. "We made a few mistakes up top with the load, so we're really pleased as a team with the finish. This was our third push together as a team. We pulled together and did really well."
e-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com