Benjamin Maier second in intermediate classification ahead of Johannes Lochner
Altenberg (RWH) Defending 4-man bobsleigh champion Francesco Friedrich (GER) with Thorsten Margis, Candy Bauer and Alexander Schueller is in the lead at the halfway stage of the BMW IBSF World Championships 2021 in Altenberg (GER).
After two of four race runs, the quartet from the German host team is 0.38 seconds ahead of Benjamin Maier (AUT) with Danut Moldovan, Markus Sammer and Kristian Huber. Both teams have been on the podium in every race in the 2020/2021 BMW IBSF World Cup - Friedrich as the winner, Maier third in the opener and then second three times.
Third ahead of the final day of the BMW IBSF World Championships with two more rounds is Johannes Lochner (GER) with Florian Bauer, Christopher Weber and Christian Rasp. Lochner, the 2017 World Champion and 2020 silver medallist in Altenberg, is 0.71 seconds behind Friedrich.
The teams behind him also have a chance of winning a medal, especially Oskars Kibermanis from Latvia. The 2019 Whistler World Cup silver medallist is fourth (0.82 seconds back) ahead of Canada's Justin Kripps (0.85 seconds back) with Cam Stones, Ryan Sommer and Ben Coakwell in fifth.
Rounding out the top six is 2014 Olympic 4-man bobsleigh Champion and 2016 World Champion Oskars Melbardis (LAT, 1.18 seconds back) with Edgars Nemme, Lauris Kaufmanis and Intars Dambis.
Junior World Champion Michael Vogt (SUI) with Silvio Weber, Sandro Michel and Andreas Haas is tenth before the final day.
>> Result after race run two of four
The World Championships final in the 4-man bobsleigh with race runs number three and four is on Sunday, 14 February, at 3 and 4.30 pm.
For more detailed information including athlete profiles and results please visit ibsf.org. Photos for editorial use can be found at Flickr. ©RWH2021
Photos: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis
