Berchtesgaden (pps) No fewer than three times Germany’s Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch improved their own track record on the artificially-iced track at Koenigssee, Germany in the Krombacher Challenge Cup. Two days later the 2002 Olympic Champions also won the final in the Viessmann Luge World Cup thus assuring their third overall World Cup victory since 2000 and 2002.

The fantastic shape of the 2003 world bronze medallists could already be glimpsed during preparation. At Koenigssee in November they did not wear their best racing suits and had not specially prepared their sled – but in spite of that their electronic time was one tenth of a second below the official track record. „It’s going well“, Patric Leitner then commented the test run.

The doubles have been among the world’s top since their first World Championship title on their home track at Koenigssee in 1999. „That is one of our favourite tracks. We always want to win what there is to win. But we don’t always achieve it.“ In order to capture their third World title since 1999 and 2000 the 2003 World Cup runners-up built a new sled last summer. After a few problems at the beginning the two Bavarians got into better shape winning the two Viessmann Luge World Cup events at Igls, Austria and Koenigssee and are now travelling to Japan full of anticipation. Alexander Resch: „“We like it there.“

They both say that they have become more consistent. The times are over when they either crossed the finishing line as winners or crashed. That’s why the US media sometimes dubbed them "Flying Bavarians“. „But that’s past“, Patric Leitner assures. He can prove that at Nagano.