Less than three weeks ago Wolfgang and Andreas Schopf participated in their first World Cup race. The youngsters became second, which was the surprise of the day. Today, the 16-year-old Andreas and his 17-year-old cousin Wolfgang became World Championships ahead of last year´s winners Armin and David Mair (ITA). Half an hour after the race the two boys still could not believe it, “we wanted to give a good performance in the second run to keep the second place. Not even during the race I realized that we were that fast that it could be good enough to win the title.” And they indeed had needed a very fast run to beat Mair/Mair. They had been ahead almost one second, but in the end were half a second behind. But they appreciated the performance of the new champions: “With such a run they definitely deserved to win the title.”
In the men´s sinleseater race everything had seemed to be decided before the race already: local hero Ferdinand Hirzegger holds all records on his home track, won last year´s World Cup here, is the current leader in the RED BULL World Cup. But it was a lot of pressure, everybody expected him to win. The bigger was the disappointment when he ended up with the only fourth time after the first run. But in the second run he proved once more that he is at home on this track: with a breathtaking ride he put himself on top again. “I had some mistakes in the first run. Then for the second run I made some changes on my sledge and it proved to be the right decision.” He does not stay in the hotel with the team. He sleeps at home so that he can prepare perfectly for the final run tomorrow.
In the women´s race it should be a surprise if anybody else than Sonja Steinacher (ITA) would end up as the winner. With best times in both runs she is 0,9 seconds ahead already. But Schopf/Schopf were 0,9 seconds behind as well…so everything is still possible for the trio chasing Steinacher. Especially Renate Gietl (ITA) seems to feel very well at this challenging track. She already won the women´s race in the team event. So there will be thrilling finals tomorrow.

Final Results Men´s Doubleseaters:

1. Wolfgang SCHOPF/Andreas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:23.15 (2), 1:21.82 (1), 2:44.97
2. Armin MAIR/David MAIR (ITA), 1:22.22 (1), 1:23.19 (4), 2:45.41
3. Peter LECHNER/Peter BRAUNEGGER (AUT), 1:23.57 (3), 1:22.70 (2), 2:46.27
4. Andrzej LASZCZAK/Damian WANICZEK (POL), 1:24.10 (4), 1:23.14 (3), 2:47.24
5. Eddy PERRIN/Emanuele GIANELLI (ITA), 1:24.91 (6), 1:23.45 (5), 2:48.36
6. Thomas GRAF/Michael GRAF (ITA), 1:24.39 (5), 1:24.14 (6), 2:48.53


“It is not so easy to win at home”, was Ferdinand Hirzegger´s conclusion of becoming second in his home World Championships in Stein/Enns. At the first moment his disappointment was enormous, when he was standing in the finish area, staring at the board which showed his name second behind the new World Champion Anton Blasbichler from Italy. And while Blasbichler´s fans had jumped into the finish area, carrying their hero an their shoulders. However, it took Hirzegger not all too long to regain his usual cheerful mood. “Anton “Blasi” Blasbichler is one who definitely has deserved the title. He has never won it so far and he is really one of the big ones in our sport. And becoming second is not bad, either.”
His eighth medal in World Championships won Gerhard Pilz (AUT). “This are the first Championships where I go back home with two medals, the silver in the team event and today the bronze medal.” And he, too, is happy for Blasbichler.

Whereas in the men´s race the clear favourite could not win the race, in the women´s event, Sonja Steinacher succeeded. After being ahead 0,9 seconds after the second run, everybody already considered her the new Champion. “But a mistake can happen so easily, especially on a difficult track like this one. So you always have to attack, there are no safty-runs”, she smiles – and this time a little bit broader than normally. The surprise of the weekend was the young Italian Renate Gietl (19). In her first World Championships she won the silver medal. “I still cannot believe it. I was not even a fully qualified member of the team. But I felt myself at home here from the beginning.” Also Sandra Mariner (AUT) was happy about her bronze medal. “Considering that I had already quit my carreer this is really a great success.” Good chances for another surprise had Sabine Kogler (AUT): She had been third after the second run, but crashed into the rails a few meters before the finished and instead of winning a medal she had to be taken to hospital. But first informations say thank God she only got some bruises.

Final results Men´s Singleseaters (49/29):

1. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA), 1:16.31 (5), 1:15.62 (2), 1:15.61 (1), 3:47.54
2. Ferdinand HIRZEGGER (AUT), 1:16.28 (4), 1:15.10 (1), 1:16.35 (3), 3:47.73
3. Gerhard PILZ (AUT), 1:16.14 (2), 1:15.93 (3), 1:16.37 (4), 3:48.44
4. Martin GRUBER (ITA), 1:15.81 (1), 1:16.24 (4), 1:17.03 (7), 3:49.08
5. Martin PSENNER (ITA), 1:16.94 (8), 1:16.42 (5), 1:16.39 (5), 3:49.75
6. Florian BREITENBERGER (ITA), 1:16.25 (3), 1:16.55 (6), 1:17.22 (9), 3:50.02
7. Gerald KALLAN (AUT), 1:16.65 (6), 1:17.30 (12), 1:16.32 (2), 3:50.27
8. Roland KALLAN (AUT), 1:16.78 (7), 1:17.44 (13), 1:17.34 (10), 3:51.56
22.John GIBSON (CAN), 1:22.27 (22), 1:22.14 (23), 1:22.57 (22), 4:06.98
23.Wolfgang BRETTNER (CAN), 1:24.90 (24), 1:21.93 (20), 1:21.93 (21), 4:08.76
28.Tom POWER (CAN), 1:34.57 (28), 1:35.98 (28), 2:03.75 (29), 5:14.30

Final results Women´s Singleseater (17/14):

1. Sonja STEINACHER (ITA), 1:18.49 (1), 1:18.40 (1), 1:19.23 (4), 3:56.12
2. Renate GIETL (ITA), 1:18.63 (2), 1:19.22 (3), 1:19.01 (3), 3:56.86
3. Sandra MARINER (AUT), 1:18.86 (4), 1:19.27 (4), 1:19.25 (5), 3:57.38
4. Sandra LANTHALER (ITA), 1:19.40 (6), 1:19.30 (6), 1:18.89 (2), 3:57.59
5. Ljubov PANJUTINA (RUS), 1:19.43 (7), 1:19.89 (7), 1:18.70 (1), 3:58.02
6. Sabine KOGLER (AUT), 1:18.83 (3), 1:19.16 (2), 1:20.62 (7), 3:58.61
7. Ekaterina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 1:19.07 (5), 1:20.02 (8), 1:20.19 (6), 3:59.28
8. Sandra SCHOPF (AUT), 1:21.33 (10), 1:19.27 (4), 1:21.14 (8), 4:01.74