Brad Hall second, Taylor Austin third with first podium finish
Whistler (RWH) Francesco Friedrich (GER), Olympic and World Champion and defending World Cup champion, started the post-Olympic season with a victory in 4-man Bobsleigh as well. One day after finishing first in the 2-man Bob, Friedrich also won the race in the large sled at the Whistler Sliding Center (CAN) with Thorsten Margis, Candy Bauer and Alexander Schueller.
Second place in the World Cup opener in the 4-man bobsleigh went to the British team of pilot Brad Hall with Arran Gulliver, Taylor Lawrence and Greg Cackett (0.42 seconds back).
Local hero Taylor Austin, overall North American Cup winner in 2022, took his first World Cup podium on his home track with Shaq Murray-Lawrence, Cyrus Gray and Davidson de Souza. The quartet from Canada in third place were 0.81 seconds behind the Friedrich crew.
The Swiss teams of pilots Michael Vogt and Cedric Follador in fourth and seventh place and the crew of Markus Treichl (AUT, fifth place) celebrated their best 4-man bobsleigh results in the BMW IBSF World Cup so far.
In the overall standings for the 2022/2023 BMW IBSF World Cup, Francesco Friedrich (GER, 225 points) is in the lead after the first of the eight races of the season, ahead of Brad Hall (GBR, 210) and Taylor Austin (CAN, 200).
For more detailed information including athlete profiles and results please visit ibsf.org. Photos for editorial use can be found at Flickr. ©RWH2022
Photos: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis
