Oberhof (pps) Even feeling sick, Christian Oberstolz managed to grab the European Championship title together with his partner Patrick Gruber. “We like the track in Oberhof. We have a clear-cut goal – to win a medal”, Oberstolz explained confidently. Their strongest contenders are Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch of Germany. “These two are our strongest opponents”, is what Patric Leitner said, also touched by the flu. Leitner-Resch had to settle for a bronze medal at the Europeans.

But there are many unknown quantities in the duel between the two most outstanding double’s of the past years. At the Europeans, for instance, Austria’s Olympic champions Andreas Linger-Wolfgang Linger grabbed silver and thus managed an impressive comeback as possible medal candidates. “We’re striving for a podium finish”, Andreas Linger said. And Gerhard Plankensteiner-Oswald Haselrieder of Italy, tied for the European bronze medal together with Leitner-Resch, might well create a surprise in Oberhof. Last but not least there are the young German talents Tobias Wendl-Tobias Arlt who missed out on the Europeans in order to prepare for the Worlds in Oberhof.

Additionally, the two US doubles’ teams with Christian Niccum/Daniel Joye and the “old acquaintances” Mark Grimmette-Brian Martin, who never made it on to the World Cup podium last season, but then managed to achieve a bronze medal in Igls.

Schedule for Sunday, January 27
10:00 hrs double-seater
12:00 hrs live act „Luge throughout time“
13:00 hrs FIL Team Relay followed by victory ceremonies double-seater and Team Relay
15:00 hrs closing ceremony at the track