Igls, Austria (pps) The overall rankings of the Suzuki Challenge Cup present an unusual picture: World doubles silver medallists André Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich are Germany’s only leaders. Prior to the third of altogether four Suzuki Challenge Cup events on the 1976 Olympic track at Igls on Friday, January 14, 9:00 hrs CET, the hosting Austrians have a few aces up their sleeves.
Austria’s Rainer Margreiter is at the top of the men’s rankings while the currently injured Veronika Halder (ruptured crucial ligament) and the doubles Andreas Linger-Wolfgang Linger are runners-up. In addition, Markus Kleinheinz is in fifth position in the men’s classification. Natalia Yakushenko is leading in the women’s rankings. At the Suzuki Challenge Cup at Sigulda, Latvia, the Ukrainian was the first to defeat the Germans since the introduction of the k.o. event five years ago.
The final of the Suzuki Challenge Cup will take place at Winterberg, Germany, on January 21.

The overall rankings in the Suzuki Challenge Cup

Men: 1. Rainer Margreiter (AUT) 145 points, 2. Georg Hackl (GER) 130, 3. Albert Demchenko (RUS) and David Moeller (GER) 100, 5. Markus Kleinheinz (AUT) 85, 6. Armin Zoeggeler (ITA) 70.

Women: 1. Natalia Yakushenko (UKR) 185, 2. Veronika Halder (AUT) 130, 3. Silke Kraushaar (GER) 100, 4. Barbara Niedernhuber (GER) 85, 5. Sylke Otto (GER) 70, 6. Regan Lauscher (CAN) 60.

Doubles: 1. André Florschuetz-Torsten Wustlich (GER) 200, 2. Andreas Linger-Wolfgang Linger (AUT) 145, 3. Gerhard Plankensteiner-Oswald Haselrieder (ITA) 130, 4. Gerhard Oberstolz- Patrick Gruber (ITA) 85, 6. Mark Grimmette-Brian Martin (USA) 70.