Roman Repilov wins Viessmann Luge World Cup in Whistler

Whistler (RWH) Russia’s Roman Repilov has won the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Whistler. The 2017 World Championship silver medallist defeated current World Champion Felix Loch of Germany by a margin of 0.147 seconds to claim his eighth singles victory. It was the first podium finish of the winter for record-breaking World Champion Loch, who has won World Championship gold six times to match Italy’s Armin Zöggeler. Third was the Italian Dominik Fischnaller.

Germany’s Johannes Ludwig, who held the lead after the first run, dropped back to to fourth place in the second round. Fourth is a familiar position for Ludwig, who missed out on a medal by finishing in the same spot at the 2019 World Championships.

World Cup leader Jonas Müller from Austria  took tenth in his first race on the 2010 Olympic track and dropped to second in the standings behind Repilov (345 points). Müller (306) is followed by Dominik Fischnaller (265), the USA’s Tucker West (236), and Loch (197).

The Whistler Sliding Center is due to host the 50th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) next winter.

The BMW Sprint World Cup in Whistler will complete the racing schedule for 2019. After the Christmas break the Viessmann World Cup racing series will continue with the fourth round in Altenberg (GER) on 11–12 January 2020. 

Quotes

Roman Repilov (RUS / overall winner Viessmann Luge World Cup 2016/17, World Championship silver medallist 2017, World Championship sprint silver medallist in 2017, European Championship runner-up 2016 and 2019)

“Now I only need to win in Calgary and I will have won a World Cup on all North American tracks. My performances weren’t always very stable, but they have got better. I am now sliding much more consistently. And a huge thank you to the track workers. That was the best ice of the season so far.”

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

“About time, too! My preparations were much better than my initial performances this season would indicate. 14 hundredths of a second behind Roman is fine by me. His second start was just amazing. And he always finishes fast. I am really pleased.”

Dominik Fischnaller (ITA / World Championship bronze medallist 2017, World Championship Sprint bronze medallist 2017)

“I am happy. I made a mess of my first run. The second one was better. We changed some equipment in preparation and it really paid off.”