Johannes Lochner doubles up in Innsbruck
BySportsbeat
Updated 17/12/2017 at 20:34 GMT
Johannes Lochner capped the perfect weekend after backing up his two-man bobsleigh win with gold in the four-man in Innsbruck.
Winner Pilot Johannes Lochner with Marc Rademacher, Joshua Bluhm and Christian Rasp of Germany compete during the 2nd run of the four-man Bobsleigh event within the 2017-2018 IBSF World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton series on December 17, 2017 at the Olympic B
Image credit: Getty Images
Doubling up as the European Championships, the win also gave the German a continental title to add to his collection, with this his third World Cup four-man win of the season.
The pilot clocked 1:42.45 after two runs in the Austrian city alongside pushers Marc Rademacher, Joshua Bluhm and Christian Rasp.
That was despite being second after the first run, with compatriot Francesco Freidrich leading the way at the halfway stage with an effort of 51.26 seconds.
But a disappointing second effort – only finishing in 51.39s, saw him slip down to third in the overall standings.
Justin Kripps, the two-man World Cup leader, sat between the two Germans with the silver medal, improving on his first run by a tenth of a second while his 4.96s start time was the best on display.
"Of course, everything was wide open after the first heat," said Lochner.
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Johannes Lochner and Joshua Bluhm of Germany compete in the first run of the 2-man Bobsleigh event within the 2017-2018 IBSF World Cup Bobsled and Skeleton series on December 16, 2017 at the Olympic Bobsleigh Run in Innsbruck/Igls ahead of the 2018 Olympi
Image credit: Getty Images
"We made a few mistakes on the track in the first run and weren't quite as fast at the start.
"I am super proud of the boys for really taking things up another gear in the second heat.
"Now we are pretty far ahead and I am really pleased."
British interest came from Brad Hall and his sled, finishing in 13th, three places ahead of Lamin Deen after delivering a vastly improved time in their second run.
The World Cup season now takes a winter break, with the next event heading to Altenberg, Germany, on January 5.
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