Zelezniki (ck) - For the second time after the World Championships in 2003 the WÜRZ Energy World Cup is back in Zelezniki (SLO). The track in the skiing area of Soriska Planina has been newly built for the 2003 championships and has been revisited in 2008 with a double world cup. In 2008 the current contenders for the top spots had been successful already back then: Patrick Pigneter (ITA) won the single’s race as well as the doubles’ event together with his partner Florian Clara. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) won both world cups in 2008. Robert Batkowski (AUT) is the only still active World Champion of 2003. Andreas Schopf (AUT) is still competing, but he won his title together with his cousin Wolfgang, who has retired since.

Should Pigneter and Lavrentjeva also win the third race of this season, they will have made a huge step towards the defense of their overall world cup wins. While Lavrentjeva finished first in the training run, Patrick Pigneter is still struggling. The Austrians, Michael Scheikl ahead of former world champion Robert Batkowski and current world champion Gerald Kammerlander, dominated the field.

The situation in the double’s world cup is wide open as always. Pigneter/Clara and Porshnev/Lazarev (RUS) are tied in a head to head race. So far the Russians have never won in Zelezniki. They finished second three times, twice as runner up behind Pigneter/Clara. Fastest in both training runs were the brothers Christian Schopf/Andreas Schopf (AUT).

Friday’s training runs have been held in heavy fog earlier and heavy snowfall later, but the good condition of the track allowed punctual starts just as planned. The competition runs will start tomorrow, Saturday, with the double’s event.

Program in Zelezniki:

Friday, 20.01.2012

Training runs, men, women and doubles

Saturday, 21.01.2012

09:00am: 1st competition run doubles

afterwards 2nd training run women

11:00am: 2nd competition run doubles

afterwards flower ceremony

1:00pm: 1st competition run women

afterwards 2nd training run men

Sunday, 22.01.2012

09:00am: 1st competition run

afterwards 2nd competition run women

afterwards flower ceremony women

11:30am: 2nd competition run men

afterwards flower ceremony men

2.30pm: Medal Ceremonies

Track Info Zelezniki:

Length: 843m

Start Altitude: 1381m

Finish Altitude: 1280m

Difference: 101m

Average Descent: 13%