Moscow (ck) The natural track luge athletes had hardly returned from Garmisch-Partenkirchen when they were on their way to Moscow on Tuesday where the Red Bull World Cup continues. After last year when the athletes competed for World Cup points in Paramonovo in the north of Moscow and far away from any civilization, this year the athletes returned again to the capital.
Thus, the training runs will be held in the centre of Moscow in the Olympic park of 1980 (however, where the Olympic Summer Games were staged) on Wednesday and the competition runs on Thursday and Friday. The event will be held as a night competition as that way, the event organizer expect more spectators. Besides, three years ago, the World Cup at the same competition venue was a very attractive and big event at which a lot of curious onlookers were present since the hill on which the luge track is situation is a popular destination for the Russians‘ outing.
This year, RED BULL offers an additional entertainment program: Following the World Cup race, a so-called "Ice Crash“ race will be held at the same track where the starters will cope with the track using ice-skates.

As far as the men’s competition is concerned, the preliminary decision will already be made in the Overall World Cup in Moscow: Who else might be able to beat Anton Blasbichler (ITA), who won all competitions up to now, will very likely have to win in Russia. However, even for Gernot Schwab (AUT), at present on second place in the Overall World Cup lying 70 point behind Blasbichler, it might be difficult to make up with the South Tyrolian luge athlete.
In the last races the women’s as well as the doubles‘ competition was dominated by Russian athletes. That this series should break just on the home ground is hardly imaginable.