Winterberg (pps) With her third season’s victory, Olympic Champion Sylke Otto increased her leadership in Overall World Cup. With 4.000 spectators in Winterberg (Germany), the World Champion in one minute 29,643 seconds banished her german teammates European Champion Silke Kraushaar (one minute 29,758 seconds) and Olympic silver medallist Barbara Niedernhuber (one minute 30,234 seconds) to rank two and three.
With rank seven, Martina Kocher from Switzerland (one minute 30.633 seconds) managed the best World Cup result for the swiss women luge team.
Best US-athlete was Ashley Hayden (one minute 30.664 seconds) at rank nine, best athlete of the Canadian team was Meaghan Simister (one minute 30.727 seconds) at rank eleven.
In Overall standings of Viessmann Luge World Cup, Sylke Otto (555) is the leader, followed by Silke Kraushaar (512) and Barbara Niedernhuber (365).

Quotes:

Sylke Otto (GER), three times World Champion:
„I have no favourite track, but I like to compete in Winterberg. I still haven’t won the Overall World Cup. In the two following races, there can happen a lot.”

Silke Kraushaar (GER), Olympic Champion 1998:
„It wasn’t sure if I could start here because of the muscle-injury at my leg. So I am very satisfied with the second rank. I don’t want to endanger my start at the World Championships, that is more important for me than the World Cup.”

Barbara Niedernhuber (GER), Vice World Champion 2000:
„I think I injured my shoulder in first run but I don’t know exactly what happened. The third rank is very good for that.”