Felix Loch clinches sixth overall win

Lake Placid (RWH) Roman Repilov (RUS) has won the BMW Sprint World Cup in Sigulda, Latvia, while Felix Loch (GER) secured his sixth successive overall victory in the Viessmann World Cup. Russia’s Tatyana Ivanova won the women’s race, while victory in the double-seater went to Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken, who clinched their 10th win from 13 races this season.

The men’s BMW Sprint World Cup in Sigulda was won by Russia’s Roman Repilov, ahead of Josef Ninis (SVK) and Felix Loch. Ninis, who drives a Russian sled, achieved the best result of his career to date. In the overall standings, the Austrian Wolfgang Kindl (838) finished second, and Roman Repilov (774) third, behind overall winner Loch (923). Repilov has just a one-point advantage over his compatriot Simeon Pavlichenko, who could only manage 15th place this time out.

In the women’s race, local hero Kendija Aparjode lost out to Russia’s freshly-crowned European Champion Tatyana Ivanova and Olympic Champion Natalie Geisenberger from Germany. Geisenberger won the overall classification with 1,120 points ahead of her teammate Dajana Eitberger and Summer Britcher (USA).

Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken celebrated their tenth win of the season to clinch victory in the overall rankings with a record score of 1,170 points. The two Latvian duos of Andris Sics/Juris Sics and Oskars Gudramovics/Peteris Kalnins finished in second and third respectively in Sigulda. Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER) and the Austrian pairing of Peter Penz/Georg Fischler finished second and third in the overall classification.

At the main event of the season, the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang from
9-25 February, the luge competition begins on day one (10 February). The men’s medals will be awarded on 11 February. The four women’s runs will then take place on 12-13 February. After the doubles on 14 February, the competition will end with the main highlight, the team relay, on 15 February 2018.