Once again the elite of natural track racers will meet in South Tyrol in Italy before there will be a two week’s break in which the colleagues on artificial track luge will fight for Olympic medals in Vancouver. The season final will be held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) at the end February. Some of the seemingly assigned roles have changed during the season, only in the doubles’ event Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) are still racing in their own league. Only a crash in the second race in Russia could interrupt their dominance. Save this one exception Pigneter/Clara have never been ranked worse than second within 17 races.
In the women’s category Renate Gietl (ITA) is back on winning track and with Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) there is next to Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) and Melanie Batkowski (AUT) an additional contender for the three podium spots. In the men’s event it seems like a bunch of youngsters have finally managed to crack the superiority of Patrick Pigneter (ITA). At the beginning of the season Thomas Schopf (AUT) managed to beat the serial winner, recently Italian fellows Hannes Clara, Rudi Resch and Alex Gruber have become serious opponents.
But there is another Italian who should never be underestimated: Anton Blasbichler. He will celebrate a special anniversary in Latzfons, he will participate in his 100th World Cup race. The World itself celebrated its 100th race only a few weeks ago, so Blasbichler missed exactly two world cups within 18 years. He has won his first race in Moscow in 1994 and until now has scored 20 first places which makes him the most successful athlete, followed by Gerhard Pilz (AUT) with 18 and Patrick Pigneter with 16 wins. With his bronze medal in the European Championships two weeks ago Blasbichler demonstrated that also in his 19th world cup season he is good for a podium finish.
The aqotec World Cup in Latzfons will be started with training runs on Friday, followed by the competitions runs in the doubles’ race and one women’s competition run on Saturday. It will be completed on Sunday with the singles’ decisions.
„Lahnwiesen“ Track Info:
Length: 908 m
Start Elevation: 1665m
Finish Elevation: 1549m
Difference: 116m
Maximum Descent: 20%
Minimum Descent: 3%
Average Descent: 12,78%
Program:
Friday, Feb 6, 2010:
09.00am: 1.Training run men and women
11.30am: 1.Training run doubles
12.30pm: 2.Trainings run doubles
07.00pm: Opening Ceremony
Saturday, Feb 7, 2010:
09.30am: 2.Training run women
10:00am: 1.competition run doubles
11.30am: 2.competition run doubles
afterwards: 1.competition run women
01.30pm: 2.Training run men
Sunday, Feb 8, 2010
10.00am: 1.competition run men
afterwards: 2.competition run women
12:00pm: 2.competition run men
02.00pm: Medal Ceremonies
