Francesco Friedrich excelled at the St. Moritz Ice Rink, overcoming recent challenges including a doping scandal involving his pusher. He achieved a thrilling comeback to secure first place, alongside Johannes Lochner and Adam Ammour. The women’s monobob event was unexpectedly canceled, with changes made to the schedule due to high temperatures. St. Moritz’s unique natural ice rink, crafted annually, offers athletes a distinctive experience, despite the weather impacting the competition atmosphere.
Francesco Friedrich Shines at St. Moritz Ice Rink
The natural ice rink in St. Moritz transformed into a vibrant German festival, but one athlete stood out above the rest. Francesco Friedrich made an impressive return following a series of challenging days, showcasing nerves of steel and resilience.
Friedrich, a record champion in two-man bobsleigh, remained steadfast despite the recent doping controversy involving his pusher, Simon Wulff, who tested positive for a banned stimulant. On this eventful day, he shared the podium with fellow German competitor Johannes Lochner, while Adam Ammour rounded out an outstanding performance by securing third place.
Thrilling Comeback from Third to First
Fans gathered in the Swiss bobsleigh haven witnessed an exhilarating competition on Saturday, January 11, 2025. After the initial run, Lochner led the pack, with Ammour and Friedrich closely trailing behind, separated by mere hundredths of a second.
Initially, Friedrich was set to team up with Wulff for the Swiss trip; however, safety concerns led to the decision to partner with Alexander Schüller instead. The doping allegations against Wulff had lingered throughout the week, prompting Friedrich to emphasize their focus on finding clarity and resolution. “We are doing everything we can to find a quick solution,” he stated on ZDF.
During the race, Friedrich displayed remarkable composure. In the final round, he and Schüller established an astounding start record of 5.05 seconds and expertly navigated the track, finishing with a clear victory as the ‘1’ appeared on the scoreboard.
Young star Ammour, despite facing difficulties this season, finished just 0.07 seconds behind Friedrich. Lochner, who started last, initially fell behind but celebrated a tie with Friedrich due to his first-run advantage, culminating in a total time of 2:12.21 minutes for the top German competitors.
Changes to the Women’s Monobob Competition
Meanwhile, the World Cup weekend for female bobsleigh athletes in St. Moritz began with disappointing news. The anticipated monobob event was canceled last minute due to scheduling conflicts. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) announced that training for the four-man bobsleigh, originally set for Friday, had to be postponed due to unseasonably high temperatures.
As the schedule shifted, the women’s monobob race was set aside to accommodate the men’s two-man bobsleigh competition. Female athletes, including Laura Nolte, Lisa Buckwitz, and Kim Kalicki, will have an additional day of rest, with their races now slated for Sunday, January 12, 2025. However, fans can look forward to the monobob race being rescheduled for the second World Cup weekend in St. Moritz on January 24.
The Unique Charm of the St. Moritz Ice Rink
St. Moritz boasts the distinction of being the only natural ice rink in the world, meticulously constructed each year by skilled specialists from South Tyrol. This annual process takes approximately three weeks to complete, providing a unique experience for athletes, who describe the natural ice as “very quiet” and “distinctly different” from synthetic tracks. With over 300 sunny days annually, the captivating atmosphere of Switzerland enhances the excitement, although the warm weather briefly affected the athletes’ mood.