Denisev/ Antonov secure gold in Sochi – Eggert/Benecken win the Viessmann World Cup

Sochi (RWH) While Aleksandr Denisev/Vladislav Antonov of Russia secured their first ever race win in the Viessmann World Cup, Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken finished second to achieve their third overall victory in succession. Despite the fact the BMW Sprint World Cup is still to come, the Olympic bronze medallists have now collected an unbeatable 980 points to win the doubles event. This marks the fourth overall victory for the duo from Thüringen in Germany, following wins in 2014/2015, 2016/2017   and 2017/18. Second place in the overall standings goes to the Austrians Thomas Stoll/Lorenz Koller, who now have 762 points after finishing sixth in Sochi.

The two Russians Aleksandr Denisev/Vladislav Antonov achieved their first World Cup victory at the Sanki Sliding Center in the mountains above Krasnaja Poljana. Until now, the pair’s biggest victory had been the 2018 European Championship title with Russia's team relay squad. Third place in the race went to their team mates Vsevolod Kashkin/Konstantin Korshunov, who have previously won silver (2017) and bronze (2018) in the Junior World Championships.

Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt, who had never before lost a race in Sochi, had to make do with seventh place and are now third in the overall standings (744 points). Wendl/Arlt won the Olympic rehearsals at the track in 2013, won Olympic gold in 2014, and then won their first ever European Championship title at the track one year later.

Quotes

Aleksandr Denisev (RUS / fifth place in the 2019 European Championships, 2018 European Champions in the team relay)

“I’m lost for words. I can't even begin to describe how I’m feeling. This is the biggest achievement of my career.”

Toni Eggert (GER / 2017 and 2019 World Champion, 2018 Olympic bronze medallist, four-time overall winner of the Viessmann World Cup)

“After we started the season with my injury, we never anticipated that we could end it with a World Championship title and a win in the overall World Cup. It was a super season. For me, the overall win in the World Cup means a lot more than the World Championships as it reflects your performance over the entire season.”

Vsevolod Kashkin (RUS / silver medallist in the 2017 Junior World Championships, bronze medallist in the 2018 Junior World Championships)

“It feels incredible to finish third in the World Cup. I am delighted.”