Whistler (pps) Already prior to the final of the 2008-2009 Viessmann Luge World Cup, the overall champions have practically been determined. Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler will travel to Whistler as the overall champion in the men’s singles, Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber as the overall winners in the double-seater. At the ninth and final World Cup stop on Friday (February 20) and Saturday (February 21), Germany’s Tatjana Huefner needs to earn a 25th place in order to successfully defend her overall World Cup crown.
Thanks to his 45th individual victory at the penultimate stop in Calgary, Canada, 35-year-old Armin Zoeggeler achieved his eighth overall World Cup success. Thus, the two-time Olympic and five-time World champion is getting close to record winner Markus Prock of Austria who boasts ten overall World Cup victories. “Well, this is a bit of a compensation for the World Championships”, explained the luger from South Tyrol. Tipped as the hot favourite in Lake Placid, Zoeggeler then had to make do with a silver medal at the 41st FIL Luge World Championships, right behind Germany’s Felix Loch who successfully defended his title.
The Italian European champions Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber even failed to grab a medal at all, taking a fourth place. But thanks to their fifth season’s victory in Calgary – their 14th career success - the doubles’ team from South Tyrol prematurely secured the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup for the second time after 2004-2005. “And now we want to win the Olympic test event”, announced Christian Oberstolz.
Since Gerhard Plankensteiner-Oswald Haselrieder won the World Championship title one week before, the entire pre-Olympic season in the double-seater seemed to be earmarked by Italy. “Our material is quite good”, explained Gerhard Plankensteiner (37 years) their dominance. “And, what is more, our coach Walter Plaikner is doing a really great job”.
After the botched World Championships, Germany’s Tatjana Huefner then seamlessly followed up on her season’s successes. At the eighth World Cup stop the two-time World champion – she earned a sixth place at the Worlds – achieved her sixth season’s victory. The 2006 Olympic bronze medallist thus celebrated her 16th career World Cup victory. And bearing in mind her 85 points lead on the overall World Cup standings, Tatjana Huefner will surely be able to successfully defend her title in the Viessmann Luge World Cup.
The new World champion, Erin Hamlin, USA, earned her second-best result of the season when she took seventh place in Calgary. However, it will be interesting to see what Alex Gough of Canada will have up her sleeve. Surprisingly she earned a fourth place at the World Championships, and then achieved the best World Cup result in career when she took a sixth place in Calgary. In Whistler Gough intends to make the podium: “I’m really close. Perhaps it’ll work out”, she said.
