Rommel scoops gold in Lake Placid as Bromley slumps to ninth

FRANK Rommel stormed to gold at the FIBT Skeleton World Cup in Lake Placid as British hope Kristan Bromley slumped to ninth.

LIGHTNING BOLT: Germany's Frank Rommel wins the second World Cup of the season in Lake Placid (Getty Images)

The German was a dominant winner in New York State, completing the fastest first and second runs to win in 1:50.88 minutes.

Sandro Stielicke finished 0.48 seconds back to complete a German one-two while Latvia's Martins Dukurs, who scooped gold at the opening World Cup of the season in Park City, was 0.01 secs further back in bronze.

The result means the Latvian stays top of the world cup standings and Dukurs admitted he had no reason to complain about his second podium finish of the season.

"I'm really happy with the third place," said Dukurs.

"At the end of the day, a podium finish is a podium finish so you have to be pleased.

"It was a tough race here because it's a tough track and you know that every strike will cost you time so I'm happy to come away with a medal."

Bromley, who finished third behind Dukurs and Stielicke in Park City, looked unlikely to medal after an first run of 55.55 secs left him seventh.

And the 37-year old never recovered from a slow start to his second run, coming home in 56.34 secs to finish more than half a second off the pace in 1:51.89 mins.

Fellow-Brit Andy Wood was placed 16th after his first run but any hopes of a top ten finish were dashed by a slower second run, leaving him 18th in 1:53.46 mins.

Britain's other hope, last season's world silver medallist Adam Pengilly, pulled out of the event with illness while Switzerland's triple world champion Gregor Staehli also withdrew in New York after picking up a hamstring injury during his first run.

The World Cup series now moves to Europe with the next event in Cesana, Italy on December 4.