Altenberg (pps) Prior to the third leg of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Altenberg, Germany (December 5-6) next weekend, the two German lugers Tatjana Huefner and Natalie Geisenberger are tied for first place in the women’s singles. In the men’s singles and the double-seater the front-runners are Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler and Germany’s Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch with each two victories.
“Chapeau! I’d never thought that Armin would be able to achieve such excellent starting times”, Germany’s Jan Eichhorn, 2007 World bronze medallist (Igls), praised Italy’s two-time Olympic champion. As the record-winner in the Viessmann Luge World Cup, Zoeggeler now boasts a total of 47 individual victories. Despite the tricky winds at the foot of the Patscherkofel Mountain Wilfried Huber of Italy achieved an excellent second place and is thus getting near his great aim – to participate in his seventh Olympic Winter Games.
Indeed, Italy’s entire team showed excellent performances: Reinhold Rainer achieved a fifth place, „youngster“ David Mair finished on third place in the first run before he was blown over by the wind – as so many other starters, too. Russia’s Victor Kneib, who finished on third place (“my best result ever”), was one of those lugers to profit from the changing winds. However, all experts agreed that the conditions were the same for all participants. “The sport of luge is still an open air sports”, remarked René Friedl of Germany, head coach of team Austria. Despite their advantage of a home event that was excellently organized, Friedl’s protégés were quite disappointed with the results.
In the double-seater Germany’s front-runners Leitner-Resch even expanded their lead, celebrating their 34th individual victory. Just like their team mates and current World runner-ups André Florschuetz-Torsten Wustlich, it seems as if the 2002 Olympic champions have already punched their tickets for the Olympic Games in Vancouver. “Of course it’s only a hundred percent sure when our boss, national coach Norbert Loch, will officially say so”, explained Patric Leitner.
But even without an official confirmation, Germany’s three starting places in the Olympic women’s singles event seem to be set. Tatjana Huefner and Natalie Geisenberger with one victory each as well as Anke Wischnewski, who achieved two third places, have put things straight. By the way, Canada’s Alex Gough once again attracted attention with a stunning fourth place, thus repeating her strong performance at the World Championships in Lake Placid in 2009.
Geisenberger, Zoeggeler and Oberstolz-Gruber last year’s winners
Altenberg (pps) The luge track in Altenberg in Saxony (Germany), venue of the 43rd FIL Luge World Championships in 2012, will host its 19th Viessmann Luge World Cup event. In summer, the artificially-iced track was renovated at a total cost of about 1.4 million Euro and is now boasting state-of-the-art facilities, such as, for instance, new start areas.
Last year’s winners were Natalie Geisenberger of Germany, Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler and compatriots Christian Oberstolz-Patrick Gruber. Hot favourites at the upcoming World Cup in Altenberg are surely Austria’s lugers. In the 2007-08 season, for instance, Nina Reithmayer surprisingly won the Challenge Cup.
Schedule – Viessmann Luge World Cup in Altenberg
Altenberg (pps) The Viessmann Luge World Cup will continue in Altenberg, Germany, next weekend. On Saturday, December 5, the decision in the men’s singles will start at 08:35 hrs local time, followed by the double-seater at 11.40 hrs. On Sunday, the women’s singles will be carried out as of 09:55 hrs; the second of the altogether five Tiscover Team Relay events this season then starts at 13:00 hrs.
Friday, December 4
09:00 hrs: Nations Cup
15:00 hrs: sprint test event
Saturday, December 5
08:35 hrs: men’s singles
11:40 hrs: double-seater
Sunday, December 6
09:55 hrs: women’s single
13:00 hrs: Tiscover Team Relay
