Altenberg (pps) Silke Kraushaar-Pielach, Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch as well as – tied for top spot - David Moeller (all of Germany) and Armin Zoeggeler (Italy) are currently leading the SUZUKI Challenge Cup rankings prior to the third and penultimate event of the series to take place on the artificially-iced track in Altenberg on Friday, February 1st (as of 13:00 hrs).

Silke Kraushaar-Pielach is heading the rankings in the women’s singles boasting 185 points and with two victories under the belt Leitner-Resch have achieved the highest possible score of 200 points in the double-seater. Similar to the Viessmann Luge World Cup, David Moeller and Armin Zoeggeler are tied for first place, both having scored 170 points. The SUZUKI Challenge Cup final will be carried out on the artificially-iced track in Sigulda, Latvia on February 14, 2008.

Felix Loch of Germany, who became the youngest World luge champion of all times in Oberhof last weekend, will not compete in Altenberg. He intends to defend his title at the Junior World Championships in Lake Placid. However, all other title holders of the 40th World Championships will compete: Tatjana Huefner, who won the Challenge Cup event in Innsbruck-Igls, as well as André Florschuetz-Torsten Wustlich (all of Germany).

Overall standings SUZUKI Challenge Cup

Women
1. Silke Kraushaar-Pielach (GER): 185 points
2. Veronika Halder (AUT): 140
3. Nina Reithmayer (AUT): 110
4. Tatjana Huefner (GER): 100

Men
1. Armin Zoeggeler (ITA): 170
1. David Moeller (GER): 170
3. Jan Eichhorn (GER): 145
4. Stefan Hoehener (SUI): 110
4. Daniel Pfister (AUT): 110

Double-seater
1. Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch (GER): 200
2. Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber (ITA): 155
3. Wolfgang Linger-Andreas Linger (AUT): 124
4. Gerhard Plankensteiner-Oswald Haselrieder (ITA): 115

Schedule:
February, 1st 2008, 13:00 hrs: SUZUKI Challenge Cup