Team GB face an uphill task to win an Olympic medal in the four-man bobsleigh as they sit seventh at the halfway point.
Pilot Brad Hall had showcased why the British team are medal contenders in Cortina with a brilliant first run of 54.39 seconds, which left them in third place.
But they dropped off the pace in the second, clocking 55.04secs – the 12th-quickest time in heat two – to lose four places in the standings before Sunday’s medal-deciding heats.
The three German teams remain the ones to beat and they occupy the top three spots with Johannes Lochner, who won two-man gold earlier this week, leading the charge with an overall time of 1:48:61.
There was a long delay to competition at the Cortina sliding track after Austria suffered a crash during heat two, with one of the athletes treated for a lengthy period on the ice before being stretchered off.
Action resumed after about a 20-minute delay but, with the track now slower because of the rising temperature, the British team were unable to find the speed of their first run and currently sit on 1:49:43.
WE took three hard-boiled eggs from the hotel breakfast bar – two made it safely to the Innsbruck’s bobsled track in Austria.
The third egg sadly exploded in a runny mess in my youngest son’s pocket.
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I recreated the famous Cool Runnings bobsleigh scene at top European tourist attraction in InnsbruckCredit: Rob GillThe Jamaica bobsleigh team kissed a “lucky egg” before hitting the ice in Cool Runnings – so we did tooCredit: Rob Gill
I’m pretty sure you know where this is going – the Jamaica bobsleigh team kissed a “lucky egg” before hitting the ice in Cool Runnings.
So of course we had to do the same before hopping in a four-man “taxi bob” for the craziest minute of our lives.
Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s bobsleigh time.
Innsbruck is one of the fastest tracks on the IBSF World Cup calendar, featuring a wild 360-degree bend – one of only four in the world – and an even wilder left-right-left labyrinth section reaching up to 75mph and 4.6g.
Let’s just say bobsleigh athletes are a special breed.
The thing is, YOU can experience it too.
A pro driver and a brake man will take two guests down the full Olympic track at a cost of €119 (£103.56) per person.
It’s all over in a minute but it’s totally worth it, a huge shot of adrenaline that’s right up there with driving a Formula 1 car.
Another really cool experience is the Innsbruck ski jump just down the road.
This time only as a spectator, the views from the Bergisel SKY restaurant at the top of the jump are incredible and you might get lucky and see some Austrian Eddie The Eagles in full flight mode.
Innsbruck was just a 30-minute train ride from our base up in the mountains in Seefeld.
This small, friendly ski town is one of my favourite places in the world.
It has five sunny slopes for all abilities, cross-country skiing tracks, ski schools, rental shops and free ski buses that take you all around the local area.
The brilliant tourist office at seefeld.com will help you find accommodation to suit your budget and suggest a lot of things to do when you’re not on the piste.
Innsbruck is one of the fastest tracks on the IBSF World Cup calendar reaching 75mphCredit: Rob GillAnother really cool experience is the Innsbruck ski jumpCredit: Rob GillYou can also go tobogganing in Hammermoosalm nearbyCredit: Rob Gill
We went tobogganing at Hammermoosalm – free bus, short hike, coffee, grab a toboggan (£6.96) and go.
We also went on a torchlit walk (£12.18) through a forest in Mosern and even made full use of the outdoor heated pool at the Olympic wellness centre.
There are plenty of bars and restaurants in the town, plus market stalls serving locally-sourced honey glühwein and raclette (who doesn’t love melted cheese) and other traditional Austrian treats.
Taking the family on a ski holiday doesn’t need to break the bank.
We bought our ski gear from Lidl, booked easyJet flights from Manchester to Innsbruck, and grabbed lunch most days from the local supermarket.
That gave us the budget for a cheeky Radler (beer and grapefruit) half way down the Rosshuette ski run.
Then another Radler at the igloo-shaped apres-ski bar at the bottom.
My family will never forget that bobsled run, the views from the ski jump, the winter wonderland that is Seefeld, and the runny egg.
And heading skiing doesn’t have to be expensive either – we bought our ski gear from LidlCredit: Rob GillA pro driver and a brake man will take two guests down the full Olympic track at a cost of €119 (£103.56) per personCredit: Rob Gill
