Preview men: Half a dozen contenders in the men’s singles

Innsbruck (RWH) An unsettled title holder, two formidable Russians, an unpredictable young US slider, a promising outsider, and an ambitious local hero – one of a half-dozen men could take victory or at least win some silverware at the 47th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) on the Olympic ice track in Innsbruck. The title contenders are Felix Loch (GER), Semen Pavlichenko (Photo left) and Roman Repilov from Russia, Tucker West (USA), who won in Lake Placid and Whistler, along with Dominik Fischnaller (ITA) and Wolfgang Kindl from Austria.

Let’s consider them one at a time: Since winning his maiden gold as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, Felix Loch has been the man to beat at every main event. Now aged 27, his tally includes two Olympic gold medals, five World Championship titles and two silver medals, including his maiden World Title back in 2008. But Loch is self-critical: “For the first time in nine years, I am probably not the no. 1 favorite.”

Last year’s runaway winner has managed just a solitary victory during the current pre-Olympic winter season. And this sole success was not in the Olympic discipline of the men’s singles, but instead in the BMW Sprint World Cup at the season opener in Winterberg. “I can’t seem to move beyond fourth or fifth place this winter,” bemoans Loch, who currently lies fourth in the overall standings.

He lags behind the Austrian Wolfgang Kindl (Photo right), who is targeting a World Championship medal, and the leading Russians Roman Repilov and Semen Pavlichenko. Repilov took victory in Park City and went on to win the sprint race in Sigulda, while Pavlichenko was victorious in Königssee, claiming European gold at the same time, and more recently in Sigulda. “I see myself as a title contender,” is 25-year-old Pavlichenko’s confident verdict. “I like the track in Innsbruck – don’t forget I won silver at the Junior World Championships there.” That was seven years ago – Pavlichenko, who finished fifth at the Sochi Olympics, finished eighth in Innsbruck last year. His compatriot Repilov, a two-time Junior World Champion, came fifth on the 1976 Olympic track in November 2015.

In that race, the South Tyrolean Dominik Fischnaller celebrated his second win in the Viessmann World Cup. This winter, the 23-year-old South Tyrolean has endured a real roller coaster ride in terms of results. His win in the BMW Sprint World Cup in Park City is offset against finishing 31st and last in Sigulda. “You can never discount Dominik – he always drives well in Innsbruck,” warns Wolfgang Kindl.

The local hero is the most consistent of all the title aspirants, despite not winning a race so far. Last year’s World Championship bronze medallist has failed to finish on the podium at just three of nine events so far this season.