Altenberg (pps) The reigning Olympic champions marked the Viessmann Luge World Cup at the 2006 Olympic track at Cesana Pariol, Italy. Three months prior to the opening of the Olympic Winter Games in Torino on February 10, the 2002 Salt Lake City gold medal winners, Germany’s Sylke Otto, Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler and Germany’s Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch in the doubles won the pre-Olympic test thus taking over the role of favourites. Four-time World champion Sylke Otto gained her altogether 35 th victory in the Viessmann Luge World Cup. Thanks to a new track record in the second heat, Armin Zoeggeler prevented reigning World Cup champion Albert Demchenko, of Russia, from winning his second race this season. And Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch proved their superior level by a clear victory. Prior to the third Viessmann Luge World Cup event next weekend at Altenberg, Germany, Sylke Otto wears the “Yellow Shirt” of the leader in the women’s competition with 185 points, followed by Germany’s Silke Kraushaar (170) and Italy’s Anastasia Oberstolz-Antonova (115). Demchenko is leading in the men’s event while US American Tony Benshoof and Zoeggeler share second position with 155 points each. Thanks to their 21 st World Cup win, Leitner-Resch took the lead with 170 points from Italy’s Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber (160) and Austria’s Tobias Schiegl-Markus Schiegl (155).

The schedule at Altenberg (local times):

Friday, November 25, 2005
09.00 hrs CET SUZUKI Challenge Cup

Saturday, November 26, 2005
12.00 hrs CET Men
11.00 hrs CET Doubles

Sunday, November 27, 2005
13.00 hrs CET Women

Constantly updated TV transmission times are available in the Events section.