Eggert/Benecken win third doubles World Championship title

Sochi (RWH) All good things come in threes – Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken have won their third doubles title at the 49th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Sochi, following on from their victories in 2017 and 2019. The Olympic bronze medallists from Germany won the race in Sanki Sliding Center ahead of the Russians Aleksandr Denisev/Vladislav Antonov, who claimed gold in yesterday’s sprint World Championship. Bronze went to Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER), who won the first of their brace of Olympic doubles gold medals at the same track back in 2014.

By winning the title, Sascha Benecken gave himself a belated gift birthday celebrating his 30th birthday on Valentine’s Day (14 February), when he missed out on a medal in the sprint by one thousandth of a second with a fourth-place finish. Eggert/Benecken managed only the fourth fastest time on the second run, but it was sufficient to retain their title. The duo laid the foundation for their win by setting the fastest time of the day on the first run.

Wendl/Arlt were in second place at half-time but had to cede that position to the previous day’s sprint World Champions. Fourth and fifth went to the Russians Vsevolod Kashkin/Konstantin Korshunov and Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner from Italy respectively.

The Latvian pairing of Andris Sics/Juris Sics were completely out of the running following a crash on their first attempt, but really showed their mettle on the second run. The 2010 Olympic silver medallists ended up tenth. 

Quotes

Toni Eggert (GER / World Champion 2017, 2019 and 2020, Olympic bronze medallist 2018)

“After our poor sprint on Friday, we were very relieved after the first run and happy that we got through it OK. We could tell by the Russians who had started in front of us that we had set a really good time. But we knew that was only half the battle and we needed to put in a repeat performance. You can’t compare the three world titles as they were all won in different ways and in different conditions.”

Aleksandr Denisev (RUS / Sprint World Champion 2020, Olympic fifth in 2014 and Olympic silver medallist in the 2014 team relay)

“We are pleased. It was good preparation for the team relay on Sunday.”

Tobias Wendl (GER / Olympic Champion in 2014 and 2018, Team Relay Olympic Champion in 2014 and 2018, three-time World Champion)

“We think third is pretty good – not great but OK. We were very pleased to see Toni and Sascha take victory, I think the pictures taken in the finishing area show The. We are really pushing ourselves in training with those guys – that’s where this kind of performance comes from.”