Sigulda (pps). Excitement at the finals to the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Sigulda. At the doubles race on the luge track in Sigulda the four times World Champions Patric Leitner/ Alexander Resch (GER) made the fight for the overall victory unwillingly thrilling.
After a mistake in first run, the Olympic Champions of 2002 were tenth – with a viyctory of the leading Christian Oberstolz/Patrick Gruber (ITA) the 36 points for this tenth rank had given Leitner/Resch exactly one point advantage in overall ranking. But in second run, the three times European Champions stayed cool and had a good run to seventh rank.
The last race of the season to Viessmann luge World Cup won Olympic bronze medallists of 2006 Gerhard Plankensteiner/Oswald Haselrieder (ITA) in 1 minute 25,892 seconds followed by their teammates and Vice European Champions of 2004 Christian Oberstolz/Patrick Gruber (1 minute 25,954 seconds). The Olympic Champions Andreas Linger/Wolfgang Linger (1 minute 26,245 seconds) from Austria finished third.
In overall ranking, Patric Leitner/Alexander Resch with 786 points won for the fifth time since 1999/00, 2001/02, 2003/04 and 2005/06. Christian Oberstolz/Patric Gruber (ITA, 760 points) are second followed by the third of European Championships of 2002Gerhard Plankensteiner/Oswald Haselrieder (ITA, 589 points).
Best US-team at the finals in Sigulda were Mark Grimette/Brian Martin (1 minute 26,550 seconds) on fourth rank. The third of World Championships 2007 are also best US-athletes in overall ranking on sixth rank (433 points).

Quotes

Gerhard Plankensteiner (ITA, Olympic bronze medallist 2006, Third of European Championships 2002, Vice European Champion 1996)
„That was a successful weekend for us. Good that is was so cold. At these conditions we are always fast. The track in Sigulda is hard but we managed that very well.”

Patrick Gruber (ITA, Vice European Champion 2004, Overall World Cup Champion 2004/05, Winner of Suzuki Challenge Cup 2005/06)
„After first run we saw a small chance for Overall World Cup. But for that, Leitner/Resch would have made another mistake and we would have to win. So nothing of this happened. We are a bit disappointed.“

Wolfgang Linger (AUT, Olympic Champion 2006, World Champion 2003)
„Third rank is our best result in this season, that is a nice finish. We had no chance to get a better rank, so the result is ok.”