German World Cup team nominated

Winterberg (bsd/FIL) After the fourth and last qualification race of the German luge athletes, which took place on 28 October 2021 in the VELTINS EisArena in Winterberg, head coach Norbert Loch announced his team for the new World Cup season at the traditional BSD season opening press conference. World Champion Julia Taubitz and double World Champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken lead the German team. The first EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup of the new season will be held at the new Olympic track in Yanqing, China, after the International training weeks from 19 to 21 November 2021.

This year, for the first time, German head coach Norbert Loch had not seeded any of the World Cup medalists for the World Cup, so that all of them had to participate in the four qualification races, which were held in Winterberg and Altenberg.

In addition to Julia Taubitz (WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal), last year's double World Champion and second in the overall World Cup, four-time Olympic Champion, eight-time overall World Cup winner and Vice World Champion Natalie Geisenberger (SV Miesbach) as well as last time's Olympic silver medalist and World Cup bronze medalist Datjana Eitberger (RC Ilmenau) have qualified for the World Cup team. The fourth starting spot in the women's event goes to U23 World Champion Anna Berreiter (RC Berchtesgaden), who beat Cheyenne Rosenthal (BSC Winterberg) in the qualification races.

In men's singles, Olympic Champion, World Championship's silver medalist and overall World Cup winner Felix Loch (RC Berchtesgaden) and Olympic bronze medalist and overall World Cup runner-up Johannes Ludwig (WSV Oberhof) were joined by Max Langenhan (BRC 05 Friedrichroda), Chris Eißler (ESV Lok Zwickau) and Moritz Bollmann (RRV Sonneberg/Schalkau) in the nomination races.

In doubles, World Champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken (BRC Ilsenburg/RT Suhl) will be joined by 2014 Sochi and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (RC Berchtesgaden/WSV Königssee) and Robin Geueke and David Gamm (BSC Winterberg) in the World Cup.

"We have created clear conditions for our nomination procedure and a list of points that is transparent for all athletes. This allows us to go through with the nomination without much discussion," explained national coach Norbert Loch. "The fourth woman, who was the main focus, will be Anna Berreiter, who came in fourth again in Winterberg. In the men's event, the constellation was already relatively clear before the last race. Besides the three already determined Ludwig, Loch and Langenhan, who could not start today due to an injury, Chris Eißler and in fifth place Moritz Bollmann prevailed. In the doubles, our two already very successful doubles Eggert/Benecken and Wendl/Arlt will start. In addition, Robin Geueke and David Gamm, who were able to improve very well."

photos: Sandro Halank