Kindberg (es) - Kindberg has a surprise in store: Hannes Clara (ITA) wins not only the men’s competition but also takes over the lead in Overall World Cup: one point ahead of World Champion Patrick Pigneter (ITA). Clara, after the first run only second, was fastest in the second competition run and caught up his fellow man Alex Gruber, leader after the first run. For Clara it’s – after the one in Latsch in 2010 – the second World Cup victory. His performances this winter were steady: twice third, once second and once first. Pigneter finished only ninth this time. Clara was glad about his success: “I am so happy. I won the race in the last part of the race. I did it really well. He hasn’t yet thought about Overall World Cup but: “I thought I would not be able to cope with the different conditions but obviously I am fast on weak and on icy tracks.” It’s going to be a thrilling decision at the World Cup finals in Vatra Dornei in Rumania (22nd - 28th February). Also Clara’s country fellow Alex Gruber was very content with his second place. “This is my first time on the podium this year. Furthermore, it was a very close competition so I had to try hard. Rank 2 is fine.” Thomas Kammerlander, third, was very happy on the podium as well. “We could not train on the track this winter and had only one training run. I am satisfied that it went so well – especially with these different conditions.” Good news also from team New Zealand. Jack Leslie qualified for the World Cup for the first time and finished 22nd. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva continues winning There was no surprise with the women’s competition. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva continued her awesome series of wins and celebrated her tenth World Cup victory in a row. And there’s no end in sight. “I worked really hard – together with my trainers and the whole team. Greta Pinggera finished second – second time already this year – achieving the second fastest time in the second run. She caught up Liudmila Aksenenko (RUS). Pinggera: “It didn’t work so well during the last few weeks so I am very satisfied now. And in two days’ time we will leave for the European Junior Championship in Russia.” Especially happy in the finish area: Liudmila Aksenenko who became third. It was the first podium of her career. “I made a mistake in the last curve but I am very happy”, she was very self-critical. Best Austrian at the home World Cup: Marlies Wagner as seventh. Russian victory also in the team competition The Russian team with Ekatharina Lavrentjeva, Stanislav Kovshik and Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev won – like in Umhausen – the team competition. Only Lavrentjeva was fastest among the women, with Thomas Kammerlander and the Double Christian Schopf/Andreas Schopf the Austrians were fastest among the men and the Doubles and yet became only third. The Italians with Greta Pinggera, Alex Gruber and Hannes Clara/Stefan Gruber made solid runs and fetched the second place. On rank 4 to 7: Germany, Poland, Ukraine and Romania. Final Results Men: 1. Hannes CLARA (ITA), 0:44,03(2), 0:43,65(1), 1:27,68 2. Alex GRUBER (ITA), 0:43,97(1), 0:43,80(2), 1:27,77 3. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT), 0:44,08(3), 0:43,86(3), 1:27,94 4. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 0:44,20(4), 0:43,89(4), 1:28,09 5. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT), 0:44,21(5), 0:43,96(5), 1:28,17 6. Florian BREITENBERGER (AUT), 0:44,43(6), 0:43,99(6), 1:28,42 7. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT), 0:44,54(7), 0:44,27(8), 1:28,81 8. Stanislav KOVSHIK (RUS), 0:44,74(9), 0:44,16(7), 1:28,90 9. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA), 0:44,58(8), 0:44,42(9), 1:29,00 10. Georg MAURER (GER), 0:44,88(10), 0:44,51(10), 1:29,39 Final Results Women: 1. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS), 0:45,29(1), 0:44,96(1), 1:30,25 2. Greta PINGGERA (ITA), 0:45,69(3), 0:45,15(2), 1:30,84 3. Liudmila AKSENENKO (RUS), 0:45,61(2), 0:45,82(5), 1:31,43 4. Evelin LANTHALER (ITA), 0:46,17(6), 0:45,51(3), 1:31,68 5. Melanie SCHWARZ (ITA), 0:45,99(5), 0:45,76(4), 1:31,75 6. Michaela MAURER (GER), 0:45,90(4), 0:46,09(6), 1:31,99 7. Marlies WAGNER (AUT), 0:46,44(7), 0:46,57(8), 1:33,01 8. Petra DRAGICEVIC (SLO), 0:46,98(9), 0:46,62(9), 1:33,60 9. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT), 0:46,73(8), 0:47,10(11), 1:33,83 10. Christina GÖTSCHL (AUT), 0:47,26(10), 0:46,67(10), 1:33,93 World Cup Rankings (4/6): Men: 1. Hannes CLARA (ITA) 325 points 2. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA) 324 3. Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT) 300 4. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT) 255 5. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT) 221 6. Alex GRUBER (ITA) 181 7. Stanislav KOVSHIK (RUS) 161 8. Georg MAURER (GER) 147 9. Gernot SCHWAB (AUT) 143 10. Adam JEDRZEJKO (POL) 140 Women: 1. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS) 400 points 2. Greta PINGGERA (ITA) 290 3. Evelin LANTHALER (ITA) 285 4. Melanie SCHWARZ (ITA) 236 5. Liudmila AKSENENKO (RUS) 222 6. Michaela MAURER (GER) 201 7. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT) 177 8. Christina GOETSCHL (AUT) 160 9. Veronika NACHMANN (GER) 141 10. Marlies WAGNER (AUT) 139