Having finished the first of two runs 0.04 seconds behind his compatriot, Friedrich’s team picked up speed halfway down the course, cutting off 0.15 seconds from their first run and laying down a strong challenge to Lochner’s quartet.

The reply was very similar to their first run, moving slightly quicker through the first half but a small mistake near the end of the second run brought the time just above run one.

Going 0.03 slower than run one meant that Lochner ended run two 0.14 seconds behind the blistering pace of Friedrich and his crew of Candy Bauer, Martin Grothkopp and Alexander Schueller. 

The bronze medal would go to Justin Kripps of Canada whose team was slightly slower in their second run, giving them no chance of moving up; but still quick enough to maintain a lead over fourth place Oskars Kibermanis of Latvia who moved up two spots with a significantly quicker run.

Alexey Stulnev of Russia saw the biggest improvement, jumping from eighth to fifth and shaving 0.08 seconds off of his first run.

The win extends Friedrich's lead at the top of the World Cup standings with Lochner's team of Benedikt Hertl, Christopher Weber and Florian Bauer in second. 

Following standard order, Kripps and his crew of Ryan Sommer, Ben Coakwell and Cameron Stones sit in third in the standings.

The World Cup moves to St. Moritz next weekend with three bobsleigh and two skeleton events from January 31 to February 2.