“I know now that I am able to compete with the best racers again”, said reigning World Champion Anton Blasbichler (ITA) after his second place in the RED BULL World Cup competition in Kindberg (Austria). “And this is very important in view of the coming World Championships in two weeks in Slovenija.” Blasbichler was first after the first run, a mistake in the second one gave him the second spot. Anyway. “I will start in peak performance at the Worlds, and I will win the title again!”

While Blasbichler was thinking about the future, the winner Gerhard Pilz (AUT) was caught by the emotions of the moment. “There are really nice days for me”, said the winner of the competition in Hüttau last Saturday and the winner of today. “200 World Cup points in four days give the overall classification of this year’s World Cup a totally different look. Let’s see what happens on the last event in three weeks in Italy.”

On a track in good conditions, the race was first at all a battle of nerves, and Pilz had the strongest ones. His teammates Robert Batkowski, leader in the overall standing, had problems to get the right approach to the track and finished seventh. The sleght of Gerald Kallan, winner of two events in this winter, was to heavy – 14,06 kg and not, as allowed, 14,00 kg. Kallan was disqualified. “I won’t say that I had the best feelings for this track”, explained Pilz. “But others had more troubles then I had.”

With two stars of the season, Kallan und Batkowski, not in the top spot, Ferdinand Hirzegger (AUT) found himself for the first time in these winter on the podium. It was not pure case. “I finally have found the best material”, said the athlete. “Now I will work to improve my speed.” In view of the World Championships, not only Anton Blasbichler seems to find top condition.


Result:

1. Gerhard Pilz (AUT) 46,55 (2), 46,66 (1) 1:33,21
2. Anton Blasbichler (ITA) 46,49 (1), 47,05 (4) 1:33,54
3. Ferdinand Hirzegger (AUT) 46,64 (3), 47,11 (5) 1:33,75
4. Aleksei Lebededv (RUS) 47,09 (4), 46,94 (2) 1:34:03
5. Gernot Schwab (AUT) 47,14 (5), 47,15 (6) 1:34,29
6. Martin Psenner (AUT) 47,29 (7), 47,02 (3) 1:34,31
7. Robert Batkowski (AUT) 47,52 (11), 47,20 (7) 1:34,72
8. Florian Breitenberger (ITA) 47,27 (6), 47,70 (8) 1.34,97
9. Andreas Castiglioni (ITA) 47,48 (10), 47,72 (9) 1:35,20
9. Andreas Gruber (ITA) 47,34 (8), 47,86 (11) 1:35,20

Gerald Kallan (AUT) because of a too heavy sleght (14,06 kg/14 kg allowed) in the first run after fourth best time (46,93) disqualified.


Overall World Cup classification:

1. Robert Batkowski (AUT) 386
2. Gerhard Pilz (AUT) 373
3. Gerald Kallan (AUT) 320
4. Anton Blasbichler (ITA) 315
5. Ferdinand Hirzegger (AUT) 261
6. Roland Kallan (AUT) 253
7. Florian Breitenberger (ITA) 250
8. Andreas Castiglioni (ITA) 215
9. Martin Psenner (ITA) 191
10. Gerald Kammerlander (ITA) 152




FIL MEDIA SERVICE
Egon Theiner