Overview

• The Viererbob World Championship in Lake Placid faced a major disruption as melting ice exposed concrete sections on the track, forcing a race stoppage and annulment of the second run.
• German pilot Johannes Lochner damaged his sled’s rear runners after hitting exposed concrete in turn five, leading to significant delays and protests from the German team.
• Reigning champion Francesco Friedrich managed to avoid the concrete but described the track conditions as unacceptable, though he maintained his lead after the first run with a 0.29-second advantage over Lochner.
• The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) plans to continue the competition with two more runs on Saturday, though rising temperatures could further complicate the schedule.
• The incident has cast doubt on Lake Placid’s viability as a backup venue for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with athletes and officials questioning its ability to host high-level events under unpredictable weather conditions.