Cesana (pps) On the one hand, three-times World champions André Florschuetz-Torsten Wustlich of Germany may well be in for a première. On the other, it seems to be „business as usual“ for Armin Zoeggeler of Italy and Germany's Tatjana Huefner: At the final of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Cesana, Italy, next weekend (January 30-31, 2010) the 2006 Olympic silver medallists in the double-seater could well earn their first „JOSKA crystal bowl“, the trophy for the overall World Cup victory. Italy's two-time Olympic champion will celebrate his ninth overall victory, Germany's Olympic bronze medallist might earn her third overall win.
In order to tie up with Austria's Angelika Schafferer, who celebrated three consecutive overall victories in 1978-79, 1979-80 and 1980-81, two-time World champion Huefner needs to earn an eighth place (equivalent of 42 points) on the 2006 Olympic luge track. Prior to the eighth and last World Cup stop, Tatjana Huefner holds the top position with 670 points, ahead of compatriots Natalie Geisenberger (610) and Anke Wischnewski (470).
Armin Zoeggeler, by the way, can go into the next event on his home track even more relaxed. The 36-year old boasts a comfortable lead of 81 points ahead of Russia's Albert Demchenko (524). Since 2005 Zoeggeler has not been defeated on the track in Cesana and the five-time World champion needs just another 20 World Cup points (equivalent of 21st place) in order to earn his ninth overall victory. Thus, the exceptional athlete from South Tyrol would need just another overall victory to tie up with record winner Markus Prock of Austria.
In the doubles' event, Germany's team with Florschuetz-Wustlich (542 points) boast a comfortable 42 points-lead ahead of the final. So far they never earned an overall victory but finished three times on second place (2004-05, 2003-04 and 2000-01). “During an Olympic winter the priorities are different – what really matters are the runs in Whistler”, explained Torsten Wustlich. The Olympic double-seater events at the “Whistler Sliding Center” in Vancouver, Canada, will be carried out on February 17, 2010. And only after the conclusion of this event Florschuetz-Wustlich want to discuss if they will further pursue their career. In the overall rankings, compatriots Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch (500) hold second position ahead of Italy's defending champions and 2008 European gold medal winners Christian Oberstolz-Patric Gruber (462).
