Germany’s Francesco Friedrich is well on his way to another world bobsled title. And that was about the only predictable development in the four-man world championship race that started Friday at Mount Van Hoevenberg.

Friedrich capped another year when he was the best bobsledder in the world, winning medals in all 17 of his major international races (15 World Cups, plus the two-man and four-man events in Lake Placid). He won 10 golds, also best in the world this year, with six silvers and one bronze.