Setback for Francesco Friedrich: The record world champion had to admit defeat in the four-man bobsleigh for the first time this season in Winterberg. The race was overshadowed by several crashes.
The big winner on Sunday (January 5th, 2025) was the Briton Brad Hall, who celebrated his fourth World Cup victory in the large sled. After two runs, the 34-year-old prevailed with a lead of 0.19 seconds over Friedrich and his pusher Simon Wulff, Matthias Sommer and Felix Straub.
Hall thus ended a successful streak for German bobsledders that lasted almost two years. The last “defeat” in the big sleigh was on January 22, 2023 in Altenberg, when Hall also won. “It wasn’t our best performance in the first run. And Brad Hall had very good material today and was simply superior in the lane today. We still have to work a little bit there” said Friedrich.
Heavy falls in Winterberg
The race was overshadowed by several crashes, some of them serious. The second run had to be postponed by an hour after a serious fall on a track sled. The incident occurred before the finish curve. A pusher was injured. He received emergency medical care and was eventually taken to a hospital by helicopter. There were initially no further details.
During the second round, the Dutchman Dave Wesselink and the Canadian Patrick Norton and their teams fell in the lower part of the track, but all eight athletes got off their sleds independently. However, the competition continued after the jury’s deliberations. For the athletes it was still “difficult“To keep the focus,” said Friedrich.
Ammour takes next podium
Adam Ammour also had a serious fall during the final training in the four-man bobsleigh in Winterberg on Thursday. Two of his pushers had to go to the hospital; he escaped with bruises. This made his renewed jump onto the podium all the higher.
After placing second in the two-man bobsleigh the day before, he came third this time, 0.48 seconds behind Hall. Johannes Lochner had to be content with a disappointing sixth place (+0.72). “We’re way too far away“, complained the 34-year-old.
Friedrich’s mistake opens the door for Hall
Former sprinter Wulff made his debut in the large sled in the Friedrich-Bob. But even he couldn’t prevent the deficit at halftime to Hall, who was already 0.13 seconds faster at that point. Friedrich made a driving error early on and subsequently made two slight contacts with the boards. The decision still promised excitement. In addition to the two-time double Olympic champion, Ammour and Lochner were also still within striking distance.
Ulli Schäfer, Sportschau, January 5th, 2025 5:40 p.m
However, Lochner left the race early and even fell back one place. Ammour didn’t have the best second run either, but was able to narrowly defend his place on the podium. What else did Frederick have in his quiver? First the best time at the start, but then the bobsleigh dominator couldn’t find the ideal line. Hall had so little trouble bringing his lead to the finish.
Two-man bobsleigh – Buckwitz snatches the victory away from Nolte
Lisa Buckwitz crowned her perfect weekend in Winterberg in the women’s two-man bobsleigh race. The 30-year-old from BRC Thuringia, with pusher Kira Lipperheide, was 0.31 seconds behind Olympic champion Laura Nolte on the 2024 World Cup track after the first run, but rose to the top with a strong run in the final. Her lead over Nolte was only 0.01 seconds after two runs. Kim Kalicki rounded off the perfect result from a German perspective and came third (+0.20 seconds).
World champion Buckwitz had already won the monobob on Saturday. Now she also celebrated her first victory this winter in the two-man bobsleigh. Nolte won the races in Altenberg and Sigulda. “There were very difficult conditions today with snow and rain. All the better that it was enough for first place in the end” said Buckwitz, who took the lead in the overall World Cup.
Buckwitz intercepts Nolte in the final
The day before, Nolte had already faltered in the monobob right on her doorstep and had only finished in fifth place. In the two-man bobsleigh, things initially went promising for the Winterberg native. She was the only pilot to beat 57 seconds in the first run and was well positioned ahead of Buckwitz and Kalicki for her third win of the season.
Ulli Schäfer, Sportschau, January 5th, 2025 12:27 p.m
Buckwitz countered with a dream run in the second run, set the best start time and also cracked 57 seconds (56.76). Nolte was no longer able to fight back decisively, was slower than her competitor right from the start and, as in the monobob, made a slight mistake in the opening curve. “When you lead by three tenths after the first run, you think it’s a sure thing. But when you drive towards zero, it’s annoying“Nolte complained after the race.