Altenberg (pps) Andreas Linger (aged 30) and his younger brother Wolfgang (29) of Austria remain the standard in the doubles. On the first day of the 43rd FIL Luge World Championships in Altenberg, the 2006 and 2010 Olympic champions successfully defended their title.
Earning their third World Championship gold medal after 2003 and 2001, the team of brothers from Tyrol defeated the German doubles of Toni Eggert-Sascha Benecken to second place (0.220 seconds behind). Peter Penz-Georg Fischler of Austria won the bronze medal.
Even though Germany’s Tobias Wendl-Tobias Arlt, winner of the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup last season, were on second place after the first run they eventually had to settle for fourth place.
Thus, Linger-Linger lived up to their reputation as specialists in the ice labyrinth in the Eastern Ore Mountains. The team of brothers already celebrated four Viessmann Luge World Cup victories on the demanding track in Altenberg.
16 years ago, when Altenberg hosted its first Luge World Championships, Austria’s doubles team of Tobias Schiegl-Markus Schiegel were the winners. It is the ninth World Championship gold medal for Austria in the doubles.
Quotes
Wolfgang Linger
(AUT / 2006 and 2010 Olympic Champion, 2003, 2010 and 2001 World Champion)
“We knew that we had to give everything as the track is very demanding. We were able to keep up with our competitors at the start and in the track we were the absolute fastest. Well, the German lugers wanted to win four gold medals here in Altenberg. You need to have goals, that much is true. But we regret that their plans won’t work out any more.”
Peter Penz (
AUT / 2004 junior World Champion) “That was very close. We are supposed to never achieve two good runs. To be honest, I’ve already shrugged it off. But it’s nice that we can finally prove this wrong and that it is for once also apparent in the result lists.”
Toni Eggert
(GER / 10th place at the 2011 World Championships; fourth place in the overall 2010-2011 Luge World Cup; 2008 junior World Champion with Marcel Oster)
“We’re a bit surprised but extremely happy. We had no expectations prior to the race. Since the beginning of the week I’m fighting against a cold and I want to take it easy so that I’ll be in shape for the Team Event Relay on Sunday. But I’m sure to raise a glass in celebration..:”
