Altenberg (RWH) The next prizes beckon: just one week after the medals won at the 45th World Championships organized by the International Luge Federation (FIL), Natalie Geisenberger and Felix Loch of Germany look ready to collect the overall titles in the Viessmann World Cup. Last season’s overall winner in the women’s singles, who returns from the Latvian town of Sigulda having successfully defended her World Championship title, is on the brink of further success, success that could be hers as early as the penultimate round of the race series in Altenberg (GER) February 21-22, 2015. And World Championship silver medallist Felix Loch could secure the title in the men’s singles the same weekend. Geisenberger, who has already won seven of the nine races so far this season, has a total of 825 points and is looking good to collect the Joska Crystal Cup for the third time after 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The 27-year-old has a comfortable lead of 229 points as she heads towards the final three races, two of which will be held in Altenberg (Viessmann World Cup and FIL Sprint World Cup). The final race of the season takes place on the Olympic track in Sochi (RUS) on February 28 and March 1. Yet despite her many victories, Geisenberger’s hunger for success is far from being satisfied. When asked in Sigulda whether she might not be a bit bored of winning all the time, the Olympic Champion and two-time World Champion answered: “not me!” Geisenberger’s teammate Felix Loch will also be facing his first try for overall victory in the Viessmann World Cup. The three-time Olympic Champion (men’s singles in 2010 and 2014 and team relay in 2014) has hauled in 705 points so far this season. He is followed at a respectful distance by Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller with 492 points and Chris Mazdzer of the USA with 489 points. The new World Champion Semen Pavlichenko of Russia will also be worth looking out for this weekend. More suspense continues to be offered in the overall rankings for the luge doubles, where Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken have an advantage of just 55 points on former and current World Champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt. “We’re pretty unlikely to win under our steam,” says Tobias Wendl. But their first ever overall victory is likely to be small comfort for Eggert–Benecken, who have taken either first or second in all of the Viessmann World Cup races this season, but only finished fourth in the World Championships.

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