Bobsleigh World Cup: Friedrich sets new World Cup record with a triple victory

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Francesco Friedrich secured world title number ten

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MATTHIAS RIETSCHEL / REUTERS

Francesco Friedrich has won his tenth world title and has thus become the sole record world champion in bobsleigh.

The double Olympic champion triumphed in the home world championship in Altenberg, Saxony, with pusher Alexander Schüller in the two-man race and led a German triple victory by a clear margin ahead of Johannes Lochner (+2.05 seconds) and World Cup debutant Hans Peter Hannighofer (+2, 23).

After the triumph on his home track, the 30-year-old Friedrich has one more world title Eugenio Monti, the Italian celebrated his nine victories around 60 years ago.

Friedrich also won his seventh world championship title in a row in the small sled, thus building his own record.

Lochner, who started this year with Eric Franke, repeated his silver medal from last year.

Junior world champion Hannighofer pushed himself in the last round with Christian Röder in front of the Swiss Michael Vogt and took bronze.

The fourth German starter Christoph Hafer rounded off the good overall German result with Christian Hammers in seventh place.

If Friedrich wins gold in the four-man competition next weekend, he would win for the fourth time in a row in the big sled - nobody could do that before him.

Friedrich had dominated the already completed World Cup season, losing only one of twelve two-man races.

In the big sleigh, Friedrich is still unbeaten this winter.

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mjm / dpa