Oberhof (pps) Local heroes Toni Eggert-Sascha Benecken of Germany achieved to repeat last year’s success at the seventh stop of the Viessmann Luge World Cup series in the Olympic season on the artificially refrigerated track in Oberhof. The doubles from Thuringia, who also claimed the European gold medal last year in Oberhof, earned their fourth individual career victory. They defeated team mates and current World Champions, Tobias Wendl-Tobias Arlt, to second place. Russia’s Vladislav Yuzahkov-Vladislav Makhnutin earned a third place finish.

For almost four years now - that is in the past 36 Viessmann Luge World Cup doubles events - all victories were claimed by a duo from either Germany or Austria. The last victory of a non-German or non-Austrian team was on January 9, 2010 when Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber of Italy earned the top spot on the podium.

Wendl-Arlt are currently heading the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup standings with 670 points to their credit, ahead of Eggert-Benecken (545). Already next weekend in Altenberg, defending champions Wendl-Arlt could well win their third overall Viessmann Luge World Cup title after 2010-2011 and 2012-2013. On the track in Altenberg they only need to claim a second place finish to successfully defend their title. Austria’s Peter Penz-Georg Fischler are in third place of the overall standings (414 points).

Quotes

Toni Eggert (GER / World silver medalist in 2012 and 2013, 2013 European Champion)

“It’s always great to claim a victory in front of a home crowd. Well, with the Olympic Games in Sochi in mind, today’s success does not have such a great importance – the tracks are simply too different.”

Tobias Wendl (GER / 2013 World Champion, overall World Cup Champion in 2010-2011 and 2012-2013)

“Eggert-Benecken are in a class of their own on their home-track. Compared to the training runs, the conditions during the event were quite different and that is why it wasn’t easy.”

Vladislav Yuzhakov (RUS / 10th place at the Olympic Games) “This is the best result of our career. We are absolutely happy.”