The German flag-bearer Francesco Friedrich didn’t exude dominance in training for the Olympic two-man race, but sees no reason for concern.
“You can’t draw any conclusions about anything from these runs,” assured the record world champion from Saxony.
Friedrich started in all six training rounds and set the best time once. On Saturday he finished eighth and fourth in the two final races. The double Olympic champion from Pyeongchang could draw level with the icon Andre Lange with gold medals in the twos and fours in the Yanqing Sliding Center after Olympic victories.
Friedrich does not feel a special obligation after his appearance at the opening ceremony. “The flag-bearer was finished a week ago. Now the focus is on the race,” confirmed the 31-year-old before the first two competition runs in the small sled on Monday (1:05 p.m. CET/8:05 p.m. ET).
Vice World Champion Johannes Lochner made a really good impression. The man from Stuttgart immediately found a good line and completed only half of all training runs, setting the best time twice. However, the results of the practice runs should be evaluated with caution, since the pilots tested the material, the start and the driving lines to different extents.
“I feel better than back then in South Korea, we didn’t get along with the train that much. It’s very different here,” said Lochner, who wants to win his first Olympic medal in China: “The lines are right. If I drive even more , it’s only going to get worse.”
The third German starter, Christoph Hafer, set the best time in the final practice session, as he did in the fourth race the day before. For the pilot from Bad Feilnbach, it’s the first winter games.