Winterberg (pps) The final of the 2002 Viessmann Luge World Cup could hardly be more exciting. Prior to the seventh and last event at Winterberg next weekend, only Germany?s Silke Kraushaar leads the women?s ranking by a reassuring margin of 70 points. The decisions in the men?s and doubles events are still wide open.
Austria?s record World Cup champion (nine times) Markus Prock has accumulated 445 points and the best chance for a further overall victory. He is 35 points ahead of Italy?s World champion Armin Zoeggeler (410). Georg Hackl?s crash last weekend at Sigulda has added further spice to the finale, because the three-time Olympic champion now must battle for a place among the first group for the Olympics. For the best twelve seeds for the Olympic competition on February 10-11 only the results at the last three World Cup events (Oberhof, Sigulda, Winterberg) will be considered.
So far, Hackl only has achieved ninth rank at Oberhof. ?I now need a top result at Winterberg in order to ensure a place among the first group?, Hackl said. The artificial track at Winterberg is one of his favourite courses. The 35-year-old German gained six of his altogether 25 victories in the Viessmann Luge World Cup at Winterberg, among them his first ever in 1988. He also won the first of his three World titles on this track in 1989. Consequently Hackl fears the weather conditions more than his competitors: ?No snow please, because that will open the door to pure chance.?
The doubles final is also thrilling. Former World champions Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch of Germany have 405 points, just 10 more than Steffen Skel-Steffen Woeller from Winterberg (395), and the local World Cup defenders still have a chance to qualify for the Olympics, though it is a very small one. Since the reigning World champions, André Florschuetz and Torsten Wustlich have only achieved a ninth and a 13th rank, German national coach Thomas Schwab demands a better performance. In order to erase all doubts about their Olympic nomination, Florschuetz-Wustlich must finish among the top three.
The winners of the overall World Cup can cash ? 3,323 each in the men?s and women?s events, the doubles ? 3,835. The total prize money of the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup put up by FIL amounts to more than 36,000 euro.
The schedule at Winterberg
You can find the exact schedule of the event under www.fil-luge.org - event organizers - info.
ARD broadcasts live from Winterberg
Winterberg (pps) The public German TV station ARD will show the decisions in the men?s and doubles? events live on Saturday; the women?s singles from 13:00-13:45 hrs, the double seaters from 15:30-15:45 hrs. On Sunday, ARD will broadcast the men?s first heat live from 12:10-12:30 hrs and show the final second heat delayed from 15:15 hrs.
Eurosport will show a summary of the 2002 Viessmann World Cup finale on Monday, January 28, from 13:00-14:00 hrs.
Silke Kraushaar, Georg Hackl and Grimmette/Martin won in 1999
Winterberg (pps) Winterberg did not stage a Viessmann Luge World Cup event last winter. The winners at Winterberg in 1999 were Germany?s Silke Kraushaar in the women?s, and Georg Hackl in the men?s events, while US Americans Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin won the doubles. At the last event hosted by the Winterberg track, the 2000 European Championships, Germany?s Silke Otto, Jens Mueller who has since retired, and Patric Leitner-Alexander Resch captured the gold medals.
Presse conference at the Restaurant Bobhaus
Winterberg (pps) The traditional press conference prior to the Viessmann Luge World Cup at Winterberg will take place on Thursday, January 24, from 13:00 hrs at the Restaurant Bobhaus. In addition to Winfried Stork, Director of the District, and Winterberg?s Mayor Werner Eickler members of the German Olympic luge team will be available to the media.
Press centre at Winterberg?s Town Hall
Winterberg (pps) The press centre for the Viessmann Luge World Cup finale will be installed at Winterberg?s Town Hall. There will be a shuttle bus transportation to and from the track. The contact numbers of the press centre are: tel. +49-2981-899 830, fax +49-2981-802 505.
