Three German wins in the BMW Sprint World Cup

Oberhof (RWH)  The Viessmann Luge World Cup in Oberhof culminated with three German wins in the BMW Sprint World Cup. Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and the doubles pairing of Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt all took victory to extend their respective leads in the overall standings of the Viessmann Luge World Cup. All are now also hot favourites to take victory at the inaugural International Luge Federation (FIL) Sprint World Championships on the artificial ice track in Königssee on 29 January 2016.

 Felix Loch took his fifth consecutive win, finishing ahead of Andi Langenhan and Ralf Palik as he had also done the previous day, and has extended his lead in the overall standings to a comfortable 90 points. The Olympic Champion, four-time World Champion and defending title holder now has 690 points. Austrian Wolfgang Kindl, who managed only eleventh in the BMW Sprint World Cup, lies second on 600 points, while US slider Chris Mazdzer finished tenth in the sprint and is currently third overall on 511 points. This was Loch’s 29th career victory.

 In the women’s race, Natalie Geisenberger topped the podium for the second time this season. This was the 33rd World Cup victory for the Olympic gold medallist and two-time World Champion. She was followed home by her teammates Dajana Eitberger and Tatjana Hüfner in second and third places respectively. Geisenberger now leads the overall standings on 680 points ahead of Eitberger on 608 points. Summer Britcher from the USA has dropped back to third place on 603 points.

 In the doubles race, the Olympic Champions and two-time World Champions Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt clinched their 33rd individual victory to move level with previous all-time record winners Patric Leitner/Alexander Resch of Germany. The 2002 Olympic Champions retired from the sport in 2010 having amassed a total of 34 wins in the Viessmann World Cup doubles. Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken (GER) finished in second place ahead of Latvians Andris Sics/Juris Sics. Wendl/Arlt now lead the overall standings on 767 points ahead of Eggert/Benecken (730) and Penz/Fischler (665).

The Viessmann World Cup is set to take a break next weekend ahead of the main event of the season, the 46th FIL World Luge Championships in Königssee. The 7th Viessmann World Cup of the season will take place on the Olympic track in Sochi, Russia, on 6-7 February 2016.