SOCHI, Russia (AP) — Alexandr Zubkov of Russia retained the four-man bobsled overall title Sunday, while Oskars Melbardis claimed his first World Cup victory by driving Latvia to the win in the final race of the season.
Melbardis, Daumants Drieskens, Arvis Vikaste and Arvis Dambis had a two-run time of 1 minute, 52.29 seconds to edge Thomas Florschuetz’s German team by 0.02 seconds.
Zubkov was tied for third with Russia’s Alexander Kasyanov, 0.14 seconds behind the winner at Sanki Sliding Centre, the venue for next year’s Sochi Olympics.
Zubkov, who also won back-to-back overall titles in 2005-06, won five races this season to total 1,727 points from eight events. Melbardis was second with 1,625, followed by Gemany’s Manuel Machata with 1,594 points.
