Only crash can prevent Zoeggeler from winning – possible consolation for Oberstolz-Gruber Sigulda (pps) Germany’s Silke Kraushaar-Pielach, 1998 Olympic champion, 2004 World and three-time European champion as well as five-time overall World Cup champion, has become the first winner of the Suzuki Challenge Cup even before the final in Sigulda/Latvia on Sunday (February 18 at 12:00 hrs CET, 13:00 hrs Local time). However, it remains to be seen who will take the crown in the men’s and doubles’ events.

Boasting an advantage of 95 points, Italy’s Olympic champion Armin Zoeggeler would have to crash in the pre-competition to fail winning the overall rankings for the third time after 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber of Italy are heading the doubles’ rankings with an advantage of 30 points, ahead of four-time World champions Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch (Germany). The two athletes from South Tyrol did not manage a podium finish at the Worlds in Igls and this is why they intend to successfully defend their title in the Suzuki Challenge Cup.
At the 2 nd FIL Athletes’ Meeting of the International Luge Federation, FIL, last weekend, several athletes demanded improvements such as the reintroduction of the so-called “lucky loser”, a more attractive system and a streamlined schedule. FIL President Josef Fendt (Germany) promised that all those proposals will be checked by an expert commission in spring.