Olympic Champion Loch unstoppable in Oberhof – seventh consecutive win

Oberhof (RWH) Felix Loch is a force to be reckoned with on the Oberhof luge track. 0The two-time Olympic Champion, who was deposed as World Champion by Austria’s Wolfgang Kindl last weekend, took his second victory of the pre-Olympic winter season at the seventh round of the Viessmann World Cup. It was the 27-year-old’s seventh consecutive men’s singles victory in the Thuringian Forest. Loch, whose only previous win during the 2016/2017 winter season came in the BMW Sprint World Cup in Winterberg, clinched the first of his five World Championship titles here back in 2008.

Watched by 2,500 spectators, including Minister President of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow, and finance minister Heike Taubert, Roman Repilov (RUS) took second place to retain his lead in the overall World Cup with 632 points. Repilov, who took silver in the World Championships in Innsbruck, set a new track record of 42.893 seconds on his second run. Felix Loch has moved up to second place and now has 655 points. The former World Champion Semen Pavlichenko (646), who finished seventh in Oberhof, currently lies third ahead of Austrian World Champion Wolfgang Kindl (618), who came eighth in this weekend’s race.

Third place in Oberhof went to Andi Langenhan, who had been forced to sit out two Viessmann World Cups with back problems prior to the World Championships. The local hero made it onto the podium for the fourth time this winter.

Quotes

Felix Loch (GER / 2010 and 2014 Olympic Champion, five-time World Champion)

“I’m delighted to take my seventh win in a row in Oberhof. Roman Repilov is a tough competitor. He had a perfect run and broke the track record. I’m delighted I’ve finally managed another win. This has been an extremely difficult season so far, so a win really does feel good.”

Roman Repilov (two-time Junior World Champion and World Championship runner-up 2017)

“My goal is to win the overall trophy for Russia. Taking second here in Oberhof was an important step in this plan.”

Andi Langenhan (GER / European Champion 2012, World Championship silver in 2013 and World Championship bronze in 2011)

“The World Championship came a week too early for my injured back. Now I’m back in shape. I hope to be able to attack again next year and return to the top.”