Eggert/Benecken start season with 40th career win

Innsbruck (RWH) The defending doubles champions Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken of Germany have got off to a customary winning start in the Viessmann Luge World Cup. The reigning World Champions won the season opener in Innsbruck by a margin of just nine thousandths of a second over their team-mates Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt. This was the 40th individual Viessmann World Cup win for Eggert/Benecken.

Third place went to the Austrian duo of Thomas Steu/Lorenz Koller, who celebrated their first career victory at the same venue last year. Lorenz Koller underwent surgery on his elbow just three weeks ago.

The Polish pairing of Wojciech Chmielewski/Jakub Kowalewski held a surprise lead after the first run and were on course for their first win, but a mistake at the exit of turn nine ruled them out of contention. The U23 World Champions of 2016 ultimately finished 13th. 

Toni Eggert (GER / Olympic bronze medallist in 2018, World Champion in 2017 and 2019)

“We spent the first run focussing too much on our equipment. That was the wrong approach. We weren’t able to keep it in a straight line down the track. We got our act together before the second run.”

Tobias Wendl (GER / Olympic Champion 2014 and 2018)

“We’ve driven better before but ended up in a worse position. The new sled works, which makes us optimistic for the rest of the season.”

Thomas Koller (AUT / World Championship bronze medallist 2019)

“It’s cool to be on the podium again after a mistake like that. And especially after my surgery.”