Lake Placid (pps) After his break due to injury, record World Champion Armin Zoeggeler of Italy managed to make an impressive comeback. The two-time Olympic Champion, who had to cancel his participation at the 44th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) due to back problems, celebrated his 55th individual career victory at the 8th stop of the Viessmann Luge World Cup series in Lake Placid in the U.S. state of New York. It was the fifth success for the 39-year-old in the two-time Olympic host city. Zoeggeler now has a total of 99 podium finishes at the Viessmann Luge World Cup to his credit.
Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller, junior World Champion as well as U23 World Champion, finished in second position, followed by compatriot David Mair who posted his first podium finish. Norway’s Thor Haug Norbech surprisingly managed to post a fourth-place result. Norbech’s best result so far is a seventh place at the 2012-2013 Viessmann Luge World Cup in Altenberg.
Just one week after having clinched his fourth World Championship title, Germany’s Olympic champion Felix Loch had to cancel his participation in Lake Placid due to a finger injury. But with exactly 600 points to his credit, 23-year-old Loch is still leading the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup rankings. Two weeks ahead of the season final in Sochi, Russia, his compatriots, however, have caught up. Loch’s winning margin to compatriots David Moeller, who posted the best result for Germany in Lake Placid with a 9th place, and Andi Langenhan (14th place) has dwindled down to 63 and 87 points, respectively. Quite remarkable: for the first time since the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Sigulda (Latvia) in February 2011, no German luger managed to make a podium finish.
Thanks to his fifth-place finish in the World Cup, U.S. luger Chris Mazdzer won the gold medal at the 2nd edition of the FIL American-Pacific Championships, which were carried out simultaneously in a “race-in-race” format. The silver and bronze medals went to Canadian Sam Edney and Taylor Morris (USA), respectively.
The final of the World Cup series will be carried out on the future Olympic track in Sochi, Russia on February 23-24, 2013.
The complete result lists can be downloaded at www.fil-luge.org
Quotes
Armin Zoeggeler (ITA / two-time Olympic and record World Champion with six titles to his credit)
“The two-week-long break was good for me and I managed to recuperate. I like the track in Lake Placid because it’s a true luge track. Here, the start is not the only decisive factor. The driving skills are important.”
Dominik Fischnaller (ITA / 2013 junior World Champion, 2013 U23 World Champion)
“Without Armin’s help I would have never made the second place here. He has shown me how to find the best line in the track, he gives valuable tips and he helps whenever I need it. I’m ever so happy. In my second run I’ve made a small mistake in the third curve – otherwise I might have even been better.”
David Mair (ITA / 8th place at the 2012 World Championships) “Today, the three of us can really enjoy the national Italian anthem at the Victory Ceremony.”
