Germany's young wild ones Merle Fräbel and David Nössler surprise with World Cup qualifications

Oberhof (FIL/12.11.2022) Germany's head coach Norbert Loch announced the nomination of a large part of his World Cup team after four World Cup qualification races in Winterberg, Altenberg and twice Oberhof. Especially the young athletes surprised in the selection races with victories and top placings against the established success guarantors of the last years.

Olympic medallists seeded

Seeded for the team for the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup were, besides the double Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, the Olympic silver medallists Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken as well as Anna Berreiter. Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger is expecting her second child and was not at the start, nor was Olympic and overall World Cup winner Johannes Ludwig, who retired after the Olympic season.

Felix Loch leads men's team

The German men's singles  World Cup team is led by three-time Olympic champion Felix Loch. Max Langenhan was also nominated. The 23-year-old could not start in the last races due to a hand injury, but was nominated for the first three World Cup races. David Nößler was convincing in the qualification races. The 21-year-old from Thuringia made his World Cup debut in Oberhof in 2022 and will now start from the beginning in the upcoming season. There was a close race for the fourth World Cup starting spot. Mathis Ertel, Sebastian Bley and Timon Grancagnolo are fighting for the last free ticket at the further preparation courses in Innsbruck, Oberhof and Altenberg.

Four out of six women will start in singles - World Champions Degenhardt/Rosenthal in women's doubles

In women's singles, Anna Berreiter, Julia Taubitz, Merle Fräbel and Dajana Eitberger will start in the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup. 
Junior Merle Fräbel won both qualifying races on 11 and 12 November in Oberhof and the race on the World Cup track in Altenberg and thus excelled. The 19-year-old Olympic Youth Champion from 2020 convinced head coach Norbert Loch: "Merle went from zero to one hundred, that was very very strong".

World Champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal will represent Germany in the women's doubles.

Third starting place in men's doubles still open

Third starting place in men's doubles still open
The Olympic champions Wendl/Arlt and the overall World Cup winners and silver medalists of Beijing 2022 Eggert/Benecken will represent the German colors in the EBERSPÄCHER doubles World Cup. For the time being, the third starting spot in the men's doubles remains unfilled. "I am still holding this decision, I have to sleep on it first - whether Geueke/Gamm or Orlamünder/Gubitz will make it," Loch explained.

For the time being, the coaching team pronounces all nominations for the first half of the season, i.e. for the first three World Cups.

Photos: Sven Schmutzler