Winterberg (pps). Thank to their fourth season’s victory, Germany’s four times World Champions go to the finals of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Sigulda (Latvia, 16.-18. February) with an advantage of 65 points. On the bobtrack in Winterberg (Germany) for the Olympic Champions of 2002 it was the 27th success of their career, so that they have now as much World Cup victories as the record-winners Stefan Krauße/Jan Behrendt (Germany).
Three times European Champions Leitner/Resch won in an overall time of 1 minute 28,930 seconds followed by Italy’s Olympic bronze medallists Gerhard Plankensteiner/Oswald Haselrieder (1 minute 29,167 seconds) and two times World Champions Tobias Schiegl/Markus Schiegl (AUT, 1 minute 29,181 seconds).
Best US-team were the Olympic silver-medallists of 2002 Mark Grimette/Brian Martin (1 minute 29,316 seconds). Chris Moffat/Mike Moffat as best Canadian team were on tenth rank (1 minute 29,651 seconds).
For their fifth victory in overall ranking of the Viessmann Luge World Cup Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch need only a tenth rank at the World Cup finals in Sigulda (Latvia).

Quotes:
Patric Leitner (GER/ Olympic Champion 2002, four times world Champion)
„Winterberg is always a good place. Because of the World Championships we came here one day later, but we had a wonderful weekend and we have been always fast.”

Gerhard Plankensteiner (ITA / Olympic bronze medallist)
„We are more than happy, because the team relay was not so good. Leitner/Resch are hard to beat in the moment, if they don’t make a big mistake.“

Tobias Schiegl (AUT / World Champion 1996 and 1997, Vice World Champion 2007)
„The first run was not so good, but the second much better. A place on the podium in Winterberg is always fine.“