It couldn’t be any closer: the three German bobsleighs crossed the finish line in the four-man competition in Winterberg within 0.06 seconds. The fastest was record champion Francesco Friedrich.
The German bobsleigh’s next triple success put a smile on the face of national coach René Spies on Sunday evening (January 4, 2026) in Winterberg. The results for the former bobsleigh pilot four weeks before the start of the Olympic Games are of secondary importance.
“I’ll be honest, my thoughts are now only in Cortina. It’s currently about everyone staying healthy”said Spies. The national coach knows exactly: If everyone is at 100 percent, the entire set of Olympic medals will most likely go to Germany. This season, with two exceptions, the German sleds in the two-man and four-man bobsleigh always made it to the winner’s podium.
Friedrich before Lochner and Ammour
The German fans in Winterberg were also happy about the next show run by the German star pilots. After the triple victory in the two-man event on Saturday, the Germans were unbeatable in the four-man event 24 hours later. Only the places were swapped.
Francesco Friedrich (BSC Sachsen Oberbärenburg) steered his bobsleigh to victory, pushed by Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schüller and Costa Laurenz. After two runs, the Saxon was 0.02 seconds faster than his long-term rival Johannes Lochner. Adam Ammour took third place (+0.06 seconds).
The three German bobsleighs are not only at eye level on the track, but also tick the same way outside the ice channel. Friedrich, Lochner and Ammour spoke in unison on ZDF “a tough race”. Despite the narrow defeat, Lochner enthused: “I have so much fun racing against Francesco. These close decisions are what define our sport and make it so brutally interesting for me.”
Ammour is getting closer and closer
Friedrich and Lochner have been dueling each other for ten years, and other competition has been coming from their own stable for some time. Adam Ammour is getting closer and closer to the top duo. On Sunday, the 24-year-old improved from fourth to third place in the second round.
Adam Ammour is getting closer and closer to Francesco Friedrich and Johannes Lochner.
The young pilot, who competes for Eintracht Frankfurt, shone at the start in the second round, pushed by his brother Issam Ammour, Joshua Taschen and Alexander Schaller. 5.04 seconds were on the clock – no crew in Winterberg was faster.
Ammour took the same pace at the start into the track and remained almost flawless, pushing the Brit Bradley Hall, who was third after the first run, off the podium (+0.19 seconds to Ammour). “Next time it has to work twice as well at the start, the boys will do it. We’re doing well”said Ammour happily, who hopes that after many tests from various pushers “Slowly calm comes in“.