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Altenberg (dpa) - The bobsleigh and skeleton World Cup in Altenberg is a new edition from last winter.
At the time, it was the last major sports event with spectators before the corona pandemic.
This time the athletes are alone - in a bubble without fans.
From a sporting point of view, however, the signs are identical: All eyes are on Francesco Friedrich and his record hunt.
The German Press Agency answers the most important questions:
Will Friedrich manage his next record?
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The two-man record world champion, who last year overtook the legendary Italian Eugenio Monti (five in a row) with his sixth title in a row, can now also beat the record of a total of nine world championship titles (seven in two-man bobsleigh / two in four-man bobsleigh).
Monti won this between 1957 and 1966 - but at that time the Olympic races were also counted as World Championship races.
"He is in the shape of his life, at the start is currently in a class of its own," said head coach René Spies about Friedrich.
Which record has Friedrich not yet broken?
After his World Cup victory number 52 at the season finale in Innsbruck / Igls, he also surpassed André Lange's record.
However, Lange is still clearly ahead in the number of Olympic victories and medals.
Even if Friedrich wins the Olympic double in Beijing, he still lacks a silver medal to draw level in the pilots' standings.
Pusher Kevin Kuske recorded four Olympic victories with Lange and even won one more plaque with silver in Whistler and Pyeongchang (with Nico Walther).
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Who could be dangerous to Friedrich?
The meticulous Friedrich can actually only beat himself - with the wrong choice of material or with a botched start.
That is almost impossible with the perfectionist.
"Let's see which skid box we reach," says the Dominator, leaving all options open.
In the Canadian Justin Kripps, who became two-man bobsleigh Olympic champion in Pyeongchang at the same time as Saxony, the recently strong Austrian Benjamin Maier and the Latvian Oskars Kibermanis, he has his biggest foreign opponents.
"They can make life difficult for us here," emphasized Spies and also counted the Russians Rostislaw Gaitukewich among the competition.
Internally, Johannes Lochner, the only Friedrich conqueror this winter, is waiting for his chance.
"We still have to do some homework at the start and with regard to the material," emphasized the Berchtesgadener.
Which titles do the Germans want to defend?
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Defending champion Francesco Friedrich wants to triumph twice again.
After the World Cup double in 2017 in Königssee, the double Olympic victory in 2018 in Pyeongchang, the double coup in 2019 in Whistler and the success in the previous year, it would be the fifth double in a row.
A bobsleigh pilot has never managed that.
In the skeleton, Tina Hermann and Christopher Grotheer want to repeat their World Cup coup.
What is the World Cup premiere in Altenberg?
The new Olympic discipline monobob, which will be held for the first time in Beijing in 2022, was integrated into all of the IBSF's racing series this winter.
Now a world title is being awarded for the first time.
In the world series, the German drivers have so far been without a win.
However, Mariama Jamanka and Co. had completed extra units in Altenberg at the turn of the year.
With a view to Beijing, training will take place in La Plagne after the World Cup.
"We have to improve in all areas," demanded Spies.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210202-99-275404 / 2
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