Innsbruck-Igls (pps) “Local heroes“ Peter Penz-Georg Fischler celebrated their second victory in the Viessmann Luge World Cup series at the season opener on their home-track in Innsbruck-Igls. With a winning margin of 0.076 seconds the former junior World champions defeated Russia’s Vladislav Yuzhakov-Vladimir Makhnutin, who took a tenth place at the Olympic Winter Games, to second place. This is the best ever career result for the Russian doubles’.

Only seventh after the first run, the two-time Olympic and current World champions Andreas Linger-Wolfgang Linger eventually took third place, being 0.088 seconds behind the winners. Defending champions in the Viessmann Luge World Cup series, Germany’s Tobias Wendl-Tobias Arlt, had to make do with fourth place.

Penz-Fischer celebrated their very first World Cup victory in Park City, USA, almost twelve months ago. At that time they were tied for first place together with team-mates Linger-Linger. US doubles’ team Christian Niccum-Jason Terdiman finished in sixth position behind Toni Eggert-Sascha Benecken of Germany.

Quotes

Peter Penz

(AUT / 2004 junior World champion)

“Our victory in Park City was great. But to win in front of a home-crow is simply the best thing that could have happened to us. Well, it’s not unusual for us to botch a run and this is the reason why we were under a lot of pressure. We are very happy that it worked out today.”

Vladislav Yuzhakov

(RUS / Olympic 10th-placed)

“This is the best result of our luge career. Last year in Cesana we managed a fourth place. We are extremely happy.”

Andreas Linger

(AUT / 2006 and 2010 Olympic champion; 2003 and 2011 World champion)

„We are not yet in a position to manage two straight runs in a row. But well... we rarely manage such a good second run as we did today either.”