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Francesco Friedrich sets track record in 2-man bobsled World Cup win

Jan 7, 2017 | 12:15 PM

ALTENBERG, Germany — Three-time world champion Francesco Friedrich set a track record to win his second two-man bobsled World Cup of the season on Saturday.

The German, along with brakeman Martin Grothkopp, opened with a new best-mark of 54.48 seconds on the Altenberg track. They were fastest again on the second run for a combined time of 1 minute, 49.20 seconds, beating Russia’s Alexander Kasjanov and Aleksei Pushkarev by 0.64 seconds.

Latvia’s Oskars Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis were third, 0.70 back.

South Korea’s Won Yun-jong leads the standings after three races. Won, fifth in Altenberg, has 576 points, ahead of Kasjanov on 546 and Rico Peter of Switzerland on 530.