Lake Placid (pps) Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler refutes being the favourite. “I’m not the hot title favourite”, said the five-time World champion prior to the 41st FIL Luge World Championshps in Lake Placid on February 6-8. “I reckon that the German and US lugers will be showing a strong performance. For some weeks now, the US have prepared for the Worlds in Lake Placid”, the two-time Olympic champion explained. However, this season Zoeggeler has been able to win four of the so far seven Viessmann Luge World Cup events.
While Zoeggeler and the athletes of the German Bobsleigh and Sled Sports Federation, BSD, were engaged in an ongoing duel, the US hosts systematically prepared for the Worlds back home. In the meantime, the luger from South Tyrol confirmed his exceptional status. On his 35th birthday Zoeggeler won the event in Koenigssee, in Cesana he remained undefeated in his sixth competition (Olympic Games, European Championships and four World Cup events); and at the World Championship test event in Altenberg he celebrated his eighth victory on site and his 42nd individual victory in the Viessmann Luge World Cup. Only at the World Cup stop in Oberhof, when sheets of rain washed Germany’s Jan Eichhorn from rank 15 to the top of the podium, Zoeggeler remained without the slightest chance for success.
However, the 2007 World Championship bronze medallist Jan Eichhorn is not Germany’s ultimate trump card prior to the Worlds that will be carried out in Lake Placid, venue of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Games, for the second time after 1983. The “real” trump cards are two-time World champion David Moeller and defending champion Felix Loch. “Felix is hot on the heels of Zoeggeler”, said head coach and Felix’ father Norbert Loch, after his son achieved to clock an almost similar time as the “dominator” in the second run in Altenberg. By the way, the youngest World champion of all times in the history of the FIL has learned to live with the burden of a World Championship gold medal. The 19-year-old even achieved an impressive comeback after his shoulder injury (two torn ligaments) suffered at the international training week in Whistler last year: a third place in Koenigssee, followed by three second places in Cesana, Oberhof and Altenberg. “I’m quite happy with the performance”, said Loch, who was able to retain a certain level of easiness.
Loch’s team mate David Moeller is another title candidate despite a torn cruciate ligament in his knee. Surgery is postponed until after the end of the season. “I still have something up my sleeve with regard to the Worlds”, the 27-year-old explained. Tirelessly, Moeller is tinkering with the material. Apart from Loch, Moeller and Eichhorn the German team in the men’s singles is completed by Andi Langenhan. However, the winner of the season’s opener in Innsbruck-Igls and 2008 World Championship bronze medallist had to prevail against Johannes Ludwig in a team selection.
Of course there are other medal candidates such as Russia’s still unpredictable Albert Demchenko who achieved a victory in Sigulda. Austria’s Daniel Pfister should not be forgotten either. Thanks to constant performances, Pfister collected 387 points and thus figures on fourth place on the overall rankings behind Zoeggeler (601), Moeller (525) and Eichhorn (430). And the US hosts have placed their hopes on Tony Benshoof. The 2006 Olympic fourth-placed had to undergo a spinal disc surgery at the end of December. But he is back on the sled again and wants to compete at all costs.
