“Old hands” don’t belong to the “sled scrapheap” yet
Sigulda (pps) Germany’s men have found their match: after 12 consecutive victories for Germany in the men’s singles of the Viessmann Luge World Cup, Albert Demchenko of Russia (photo, right) ended the winning streak in Sigulda, Latvia. Similar to Demchenko, who is the oldest World Cup competitor at the age of 41, 38-year old Armin Zoeggeler (Italy/photo, left) does not belong to the “sled scrapheap” yet either. Zoeggeler posted a second-place finish in Sigulda. Until the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, the other competitors may be looking forward to the duels with the two “old hands”.
“I feel younger than I actually am,” disclosed Russia’s 2012 World silver medalist. For his part, Zoeggeler, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on January 4, 2013, is drawing motivation from the duel with his long-time opponent. “It’s really something special when lugers of our age make it onto the podium,” said the two-time Olympic and record World Champion (six titles).
Lately, however, the two “old hands” more and more had to yield victories to Felix Loch. The 23-year old German luger won the season opener in Innsbruck and the World Cup event in Altenberg where he is undefeated the past four years. “I’m really proud of this feat,” said Loch who has at least one advantage over his mentor Georg Hackl. The three-time Olympic Champion, who is now on the staff of German luge coaches, had won at least one World Cup event on every single artificially iced track in the world – with the only exception of Altenberg.
However, Loch failed to win the World Cup on his “home track” in Koenigssee, when teammate Andi Langenhan stole the show. Last season the European Champion claimed three Viessmann Luge World Cup victories and thus became the only luger apart from Loch (six World Cup wins) to earn top podium finishes. Two-time World Champion David Moeller of Germany posted his last victory, in Whistler, in February 2009. But with remarkable regularity the Olympic silver medalist is taking top podium finishes: this season he earned a second-place finish in Innsbruck-Igls as well as a third place in Koenigssee.
In contrast, Johannes Ludwig (Germany) is still waiting for his first Viessmann Luge World Cup success. After four World Cup events the “fast starter” – he holds the start record on numerous artificially iced tracks – is currently in fifth position in the overall rankings behind Loch (355 points), Langenhan (300), Demchenko (257) and Moeller (243). But Ludwig has not given up hope: “One day it’ll happen. I’m positive!”
Italy’s young talent, Dominik Fischnaller, once again demonstrated his potential when he earned a sixth-place finish in Koenigssee. Sam Edney of Canada achieved his best result on a European luge track at the World Cup in Altenberg. The 7th-placed athlete at the 2010 Olympic Games claimed a sixth place. His career-best result, however, is a fifth place in Whistler last season.
