Koenigssee (pps) The oldest artificially-iced track at Koenigssee, Germany, once again proved its reputation as a demanding venue last weekend. The tube at the foot of Watzmann Mountain caused two changes in the lead in the three overall rankings of the Viessmann Luge World Cup.

Albert Demchenko’s crash at Koenigssee cost Russia’s 2005 title holder the top position, taken over by Italy’s 2002 Olympic champion and Koenigssee-winner Armin Zoeggeler with now 444 points in the men’s event. His Italian team-mates Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber, who only managed seventh position at Koenigssee, also lost their lead in the doubles. Germany’s Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch, last weekend’s victors, are now in top position with 466 points. Solely in the women’s event Germany’s Silke Kraushaar retained her top position with 525 points followed by her team-mates Sylke Otto (455) and Tatjana Huefner (394).

The top has become closer prior to the seventh event of the Viessmann Luge World Cup at Innsbruck-Igls on the coming weekend (January 12-15). Zoeggeler’s lead towards the joint second-placed, Demchenko and US American Tony Benshoof, is just 34 points. Thanks to her 36 th World Cup victory, Sylke Otto has reduced Kraushaar’s lead to 70 points, and Leitner-Resch and Oberstolz-Gruber are separated by 35 points in the doubles.

The 1976 Olympic track at Igls, staging its 25 th World Cup event next weekend and thus joins Koenigssee as the record-venue, may look forward the exciting races.

Photo: Albert Demtschenko