Altenberg (pps) Only Austria’s team still has a chance to prevent an overall victory in the SUZUKI Team Relay of the German squad. Prior to the fifth and concluding event on Friday (January 23, 2009 – start at 10:00 hrs local time) in Altenberg, Germany, the protégés of head coach Norbert Loch are currently heading the rankings with 385 points – 30 points ahead of Austria’s team (355). The US team, with 260 points on third place, has no chance to win the overall rankings.
This season, Germany’s squad won the SUZUKI Team Relay events in Winterberg, Koenigssee and Oberhof, while Austria took first place in Sigulda and second places at the other stops. For the second time in the history of the International Luge Federation, FIL, a World Championship title in the Team Relay will be awarded at the 41st FIL Luge World Championships in Lake Placid in the US state of New York on February 8, 2009. Defending champion is Germany’s relay team. The 2008 silver medal went to the team from Austria, the bronze medal to the quartet from Latvia.
