A first in the Viessmann Luge World Cup

Competitors from four nations lead the World Cup standings

Sigulda (RWH) The Viessmann Luge World Cup heads into the new year in a unique position. For the first time since the inclusion of the team relay in the World Cup programme in winter 2010/2011, competitors from four nations currently lead the World Cup standings. Ahead of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Sigulda, Latvia this coming weekend (January 9-10, 2016), the current leaders of the overall classification are Summer Britcher from the USA, the Austrian Wolfgang Kindl, the German duo of Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken, and the Latvian relay team.

Summer Britcher, who clinched three World Cup victories before the Christmas break, has a clear lead in the women’s event on 495 points. In second place on 431 points is her teammate Erin Hamlin, the 2014 Olympic bronze medallist and 2009 World Champion. A little further back is Germany’s Olympic Champion Natalie Geisenberger (425).

In the men’s event, World Cup bronze medallist Kindl is currently on 465 points, followed by Chris Mazdzer from the USA in second place with a 60-point deficit. Two-time Olympic gold medallist and four-time World Champion Felix Loch lies third overall on 390 points.

In doubles, the defending champions Eggert/Benecken (540) have their nose in front, followed by Peter Penz/Georg Fischler from Austria (470) and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (467).

In a slightly unexpected turn of events, the Latvian team are front-runners in the Viessmann Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW. Currently on 170 points, the protégés of head coach Kaspars Dumpis are leading the overall classification after two of six events. The US team is currently second overall following a win at their home event in Lake Placid. Long-standing winners Germany are placed third, having taken victory in the season opener followed by seventh in Lake Placid.