Johannes Lochner won his third four-man race of the Bobsleigh World Cup season and defended his European Championship title ©Getty Images

German Johannes Lochner won his third four-man race of the Bobsleigh World Cup season and defended his European Championship title in Innsbruck today.

The pilot clocked 1min 42.45sec after two runs in the Austrian city alongside pushers Marc Rademacher, Joshua Bluhm and Christian Rasp.

Action at the Olympic Sliding Centre was doubly important for Europeans with the competition also serving as their continental event.

Lochner was only second after the first run behind compatriot Francesco Friedrich but he managed to overhaul his team-mate, who slipped into third, after the second slides.

"Of course, everything was wide open after the first heat," said Lochner.

"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."

Francesco Friedrich was first after run one but slipped out of top spot ©Getty Images
Francesco Friedrich was first after run one but slipped out of top spot ©Getty Images 

Canadian Justin Kripps, the two-man World Cup leader, piloted Alexander Kopacz, Jesse Lumsden and Oluseyi Smith to second place in a time of 1:42.60.

Friedrich, who won the two-man World Cup and European title with Thorsten Margis yesterday, was timed at 1:42.65 as he had to settle for World Cup bronze and European silver.

Margis was again in his pushing team alongside Candy Bauer and Martin Grothkopp.

Latvia's Oskars Melbardis, pushed by Daumants Dreiskens, Helvijs Lusis and Janis Strenga, were fourth overall so won European bronze in 1:42.85.

Lochner's win means he has extended his advantage in the four-man World Cup standings, where he has 1,051 points.

Another German in Nico Walther, who was fifth today, is second on 971 with Kripps third on 964.

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Cup season will now resume in Alternberg in Germany in the New Year, starting on January 5.