18 nations will be fighting for medals in Laces/Latsch in the north of Italy during the coming weekend. With Brasil for the first time ever in the history of natural track luge a South American team will be taking part.
The – still competing – title defenders are all coming from Austria. Whereas in 2003 all three men´s medals went to Austria, the Austrians have had problems throughout the current winter. So it will be a tough task for Robert Batkowski, whose best result in this season has been a fifth place, to defend his title.
The cousins Andreas and Wolfgang Schopf can look back to a slightly better winter. They finished on the podium in the first three races, but have not yet won a race in the ongoing season.
Sonja Steinacher (ITA), World Champion of 2003, has retired in the meantime. To take her spot Russia´s Ekatharina Levrantjeva is fighting a lonely fight against the in this winter overwhelming Italian team with Renate Gietl, Irene Mitterstieler (bronze medallist in 2003), Barbara Abart and Renate Kasslatter.
Tomorrow, Thursday, training runs will be held. The competitions will be started on Friday with the team event which has been held in 2001 in Stein/Enns (AUT) for the last time.
Track Info:
Länge: 936 m
Altitude of Start: 1330 m
Altitude of Finish: 1212 m
Difference in Altitude: 118 m
Results WCH 2003 in Zelezniki (SLO):
Men´s singles:
1. Robert Batkowski (AUT)
2. Gerhard Pilz (AUT)
3. Gerald Kallan (AUT)
4. Anton Blasbichler (ITA)
Women´s singles:
1. Sonja Steinacher (ITA)
2. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS)
3. Irene Mitterstieler (ITA)
4. Sandra Mariner (AUT)
Doubles:
1. Wolfgang Schopf/Andreas Schopf (AUT)
2. Pawel Porschnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS)
3. Harald Kleinhofer/Gerhard Mühlbacher (AUT)
4. Andrzej Laszczak/Damian Waniczek (POL)
Programme in Laces/Latsch:
Thursday, 27.01.05:
14:30h: 1. Training Women
afterwards: 1. Training Men
17:30h: 2. Training Women
afterwards: 2. Training Men
Friday, 28.01.05:
09:30h: 1. Training Doubles
11:00h: 2. Training Doubles
13:00h: Team Event (Double/Woman/Men)
18:00h: Opening Ceremony at Lacus Square in Laces/Latsch
Saturday, 29.01.05:
14:00h: 1. Competition Run Doubles
afterwards: 1. Competition Run Women
15:00h: 2. Competition Run Doubles
19:00h: 2. Competition Run Women
afterwards: 1. Competition Run Men
Sonntag, 30.01.05:
10:00h: 2. Competition Run Men
12:00h: 3. Competition Run Women
afterwards: 3. Competition Run Men
14:30h: Prize Giving Ceremony
