Lillehammer (RWH) Tu felix Austria: Wolfgang Kindl has brightened the outlook for Austria’s lugers with the country’s first success in the men’s singles in ten years at the Viessmann World cup in Lillehammer, Norway. The 26-year-old Tyrolean brought home not only his first ever World Cup victory on the 1994 Olympic track, it was also the first victory for Austria since 27 November 2005, when Markus Kleinheinz won in Altenberg (GER). Semen Pavlichenko of Russia came second and Dominik Fischnaller of Italy came third, underscoring their medals ambitions for the 45th World Championships organised by the International Luge Organisation (FIL), which take place in the Latvian town of Sigulda in 14 days’ time (14–15 February 2015. Felix Loch had complained of dizziness in the course of the morning and considered retiring from the race after a sixth place in the first run. But the two-times Olympic Champion and four-times World Champion from Germany decided to tackle the second run after all, and finished the race in eighth. He continues to head the overall standings with 705 points before the two final World Cup races in Altenberg (21–22 February 2015) and Sochi, Russia (28 February – 1 March 2015). Loch is now followed in the overall World Cup rankings by Fischnaller with 492 points and US luger Chris Mazdzer, who finished fourth in Lillehammer, with 489 points. The eighth round in the Viessmann World Cup takes place a week after the 45th FIL World Championships on the Altenberg track in Saxony (21–22 February 2015). In the break between Lillehammer and the championships in Latvia 14 days from now, the world’s luge elite can look forward to an international training week on the World Championship track in the Baltic. Quotes Wolfgang Kindl (AUT / 2008 Junior World Champion) “It’s unbelievable, I just can’t take it in. It’s a long time since an Austrian was right at the top in a men’s World Cup. I think it was Markus Kleinheinz. This was my day, everything went right. And I was sitting on a fantastic sled. Thanks so much to the technicians and everyone who made this victory possible.” Semen Pavlichenko (RUS / fifth at the Olympics) “I’m really happy. I’d like to dedicate this second place to my son, who was born three days ago. This is my present to him.” Dominik Fischnaller (ITA / 2013 Junior World Champion and sixth at the Olympics) “I’m fully recovered and am feeling fit again. Neither run was really all that good, so I’m more than happy with my third place. And now for the World Championships!”