As of: March 6, 2024, 7:05 p.m
By: Joshua Eibl
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Split
They didn't let injuries get them down: Johannes Lochner's four-man bobsleigh won the silver medal in Winterberg.
© IMAGO/Peter Hartenfelser
The demands were high.
Bauer wanted to celebrate nothing other than the world championship title in the four-man bobsleigh.
The pusher from BRC Ohlstadt missed this goal, but he doesn't complain about the silver.
Winterberg – “In retrospect, I am very satisfied,” emphasizes Florian Bauer.
The omens had suddenly changed when Johannes Lochner's sled fell during training for the World Cup in Altenberg a good three weeks ago.
Pusher Bauer says: “We had to lower our expectations.
That was the best possible result.”
Lochner was still dealing with neck pain.
Not ideal conditions to be able to keep up with record world champion Francesco Friedrich.
After the first two runs on Saturday, the dominator of bobsleigh had already gained a lead of 0.27 seconds over Bauer and Co.
“The bobsleigh was perhaps a little unsteady at the first start, but otherwise we had a good track speed,” analyzes the Ohlstadt native.
But that wasn't enough against Friedrich, who set a track record with his team (53.11 seconds) and was the fastest driver in all runs.
“The franc is simply moving extremely fast at the moment,” admitted Bauer.
Satisfied with the result: The team with (from left) Erec Bruckert, Florian Bauer, Georg Fleischhauer and Johannes Lochner.
© IMAGO / Kräling photo agency
Bob: Friedrich cannot be beaten at the World Championships
His team took full risks again on Sunday, “maybe a little too aggressively”.
Because in bobsleighing, nuances decide whether you win or lose, especially in four-wheelers, each wheel has to fit into the other.
The smallest mistakes can mean the loss of hundredths or even tenths.
Such a small thing also made the difference at the World Cup in foursomes.
The coordination at the start in Bauer's team wasn't right for a second - the bobsleigh with Friedrich was uncatchable in the reckoning.
In the end, the gap to Friedrich, who has already won the last five world titles in the four-man bobsleigh, was a full 0.88 seconds.
The Germans completely claimed the podium for themselves.
Adam Ammour took third place.
As with the two-man bobsleigh a week earlier, the German athletes gave the competition in Winterberg no chance.
Bauer sees the local railway as a trump card.
“That has certain advantages, as many medals as possible are expected,” says the Ohlstadt native about the dominance.
Things could look completely different next year when the World Cup takes place in America in Lake Placid.
“We always had a hard time with that.” (
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