Tatjana Hüfner wins thriller to claim 38th individual victory

 Calgary (RWH) Record-breaking World Champion Tatjana Hüfner (GER) has prevailed in a gripping race in Calgary. The 2010 Olympic Champion celebrated her first win of the Olympic winter season, finishing 0.115 seconds ahead of Canada’s Alex Gough at the Viessmann World Cup in Calgary. By securing the 38th individual race win of her career, Hüfner has closed the gap in the overall standings of the Viessmann World Cup. She is now just 40 points behind leader Natalie Geisenberger (440), who had to settle for third in Calgary.

 Geisenberger had a margin of just three thousandths of a second over Tatjana Hüfner after the first run. Hüfner set the pace on the second run, while Geisenberger dropped back to third following a mistake at the Kreisel curve. Kimberley McRae (CAN) and Summer Britcher (USA) came home in fourth and fifth places respectively

 Geisenberger leads the overall standings of the Viessmann World Cup with 440 points, ahead of record-breaking World Champion Tatjana Hüfner (400) and Alex Gough (283).

The Viessmann World Cup will visit Lake Placid in New York State next Friday and Saturday. The schedule includes the BMW Sprint World Cup.

 Quotes

 Tatjana Hüfner (GER, 2010 Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion):

 “Things went my way in the end, after Natalie took victory last time out in Altenberg.

I really gave it everything, it was a case of all or nothing. And luckily it all came good. Getting two solid runs was the key to winning here.”

 Alex Gough (CAN / World Championship bronze medallist 2011 and 2013, Olympic fourth in 2014):

 “We had a slow start to the season, but we were all really looking forward to our home race. We know the track here and our friends and family all come out to support us. I think we’ve managed to reboot our season.”

 Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2014 Olympic Champion, three-time World Champion):

 “The first run was pretty tight and I didn’t drive very well. I then drifted the sled after the Kreisel curve on my second run. Things like that happen, maybe I was a bit overconfident. But in the end, Tatjana just drove better today.”