Oberhof (pps) No decision has been taken yet prior to the final of the SUZUKI Challenge Cup next Friday (January 27, 14.00 hrs) at Oberhof, Germany. But as the current leaders in the women’s, men’s and doubles’ events all come from Italy and as the Italians skip the competition in Thuringia in favour of preparing for the Olympic Winter Games at home, there are numerous candidates for the overall victory.

US American Tony Benshoof, the current runner-up with 210 points behind Italy’s 2002 Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler (230) has the best chance to gain the title for the first time. But Austria’s Markus Kleinheinz (205), Germany’s David Moeller (197) and Russia’s 2006 European champion Albert Demchenko (185) will also join the battle for the overall victory.

Half-a-dozen athletes are in with a chance for overall victory in the women’s competition, with Germany’s 2002 Olympic champion Sylke Otto holding the best cards as the current runner-up with 170 points behind Italy’s top-placed Anastasia Oberstolz-Antonova (199). There are only two doubles battling for the overall victory: Austrian brothers Andreas Linger and Wolfgang Linger (225) and Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber (210), the only top athletes who will represent the Italian flag at Oberhof.

The prize money for the SUZUKI Challenge Cup:

Rank 1: 1,600 Euro (women/men) or 2,000 Euro (doubles)
Rank 2: 800 Euro (women/men) or 1,200 Euro (doubles)
Rank 3: 600 Euro (women/men) or 1,000 Euro (doubles)
Rank 4: 400 Euro (women/men) or 600 Euro (doubles)
The further eight women and twelve men of the 1 st round receive 100 Euro each, the further four doubles 200 Euro each.

The previous winners in this season´s SUZUKI Challenge Cup:

Cesana Pariol/ITA:
Women: Anastasia Oberstolz-Antonova (ITA)
Men: Tony Benshoof (USA)
Doubles: Linger/Linger (AUT)

Altenberg/GER:
Women: Tatjana Hüfner (GER)
Men: Albert Demtschenko (RUS)
Doubles: Plankensteiner/Haselrieder (ITA)

Igls/AUT:
Women: Sylke Otto (GER)
Men: Armin Zöggeler(ITA)
Doubles: Oberstolz/Gruber (ITA)