From Sigulda, LAT
(Nov. 22, 2020) – Two races into the IBSF World Cup season for the two-man bobsled season and there’s still just one winner: Francesco Friedrich. On Saturday he had to come from behind to take gold, but on Sunday he cruised to victory, breaking the start record twice in the process.
With Alexander Schüller on the brakes, Friedrich broke Oskars Kibermanis’ start record of 4.80 with a 4.78 push in the first heat. On the second run it was lowered even further, down to a 4.75. Germany now holds both the start and track records, with Johannes Lochner setting the fastest official two-man time ever yesterday.
Friedrich’s margin of victory over Lochner on Sunday was .21, and while Lochner wasn’t able to match his teammate’s pace, he was far and away quicker than anyone else behind him to secure his second silver medal in as many days.
Finishing third for the second time in two days was Swiss pilot Michael Vogt, who was the only other pilot under 50 seconds in the first heat. The bronze medal is the third in Vogt’s short World Cup career.
Christoph Hafer once again finished fourth in Sigulda, this time moving up a spot from a tie for fifth with Ralfs Berzins. Berzins was Latvia’s top finisher in fifth, while Simon Friedli dropped from fourth to sixth in his second heat.
It was another tough day for the Latvians on home ice. Oskars Kibermanis one again struggled to find speed in his sled in either run. Entering the second run in seventh, the double-gold winner a year ago fell one spot to eighth, behind European Cup champion Mhiai Tentea.
The race once again had 13 sleds, with Russia’s team out due to a COVID test, and the United States, Canada, China, and Korea all sitting out until the second half of the season. On top of the COVID precautions being taken, Brad Hall injured himself in training and will rejoin the tour in Igls.
Results:
| Pos | Names | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Friedrich / Schüller | GER | 6 | 4.78 | 4.75 | 49.61 | 49.53 | 1:39.14 |
| 2 | Lochner / Franke | GER | 5 | 4.82 | 4.82 | 49.64 | 49.71 | 1:39.35 |
| 3 | Vogt / Michel | SUI | 7 | 4.96 | 4.94 | 49.97 | 49.82 | 1:39.79 |
| 4 | Hafer / Ammour | GER | 10 | 4.99 | 5.04 | 50.02 | 49.85 | 1:39.87 |
| 5 | Berzins / Nemme | LAT | 9 | 4.91 | 4.91 | 50.02 | 49.86 | 1:39.88 |
| 6 | Friedli / Schläpfer | SUI | 4 | 4.98 | 4.99 | 50.01 | 49.92 | 1:39.93 |
| 7 | Tentea / Dobre | ROU | 1 | 4.99 | 4.97 | 50.15 | 49.98 | 1:40.13 |
| 8 | Kibermanis / Springis | LAT | 3 | 4.91 | 4.92 | 50.12 | 50.07 | 1:40.19 |
| 9 | Heinrich / Lefebvre | FRA | 11 | 5.00 | 4.98 | 50.45 | 49.85 | 1:40.30 |
| 10 | Dvorak / Suchy | CZE | 8 | 4.98 | 4.96 | 50.50 | 49.92 | 1:40.42 |
| 11 | Baumgartner / Bilotti | ITA | 12 | 5.05 | 5.04 | 50.49 | 50.50 | 1:40.54 |
| 12 | Cipulis / Lindenblats | LAT | 13 | 4.93 | 4.91 | 50.57 | 49.99 | 1:40.56 |
| 13 | Variola / Pagnini | ITA | 2 | 5.00 | 4.97 | 50.97 | 50.78 | 1:41.75 |
