World Champions Eggert/Benecken celebrate eighth victory of the season
Lillehammer (RWH) The German dominance of the luge doubles continues. At the Viessmann World Cup in the Norwegian town of Lillehammer, the current World Champions Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken clinched their eighth win of the season to extend their lead in the overall standings.
With around three weeks to go until the doubles competition at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang on 14 February 2018, Eggert/Benecken (GER) relegated the Austrian pairing of Peter Penz/Georg Fischler to second place. This was the Tyrolean duo’s fifth second place of the Olympic winter season. Third place was claimed by Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt of Germany.
The Latvian siblings Andris Sics/Juris Sics finished fourth here to remain in fifth place in the overall standings on 494 points. Their compatriots Oskars Gudramovics/Peteris Kalnins finished fifth in Lillehammer.
After ten of thirteen events, Eggert/Benecken still lead the overall Viessmann World Cup rankings with 970 points. Wendl/Arlt are second with 722 points, and Austria’s team of Peter Penz and Georg Fischler are third on 631 points. Fourth place is held by Robin Geueke/David Gamm (499), who were disqualified from the Lillehammer race for an overweight sled.
The Viessmann World Cup in Lillehammer will conclude with the BMW Sprint World Cup on Sunday. The season finale takes place from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 January 2018 in Sigulda, Latvia.
Quotes
Sascha Benecken (GER) / World Champion 2017, European Champion 2013 and 2016):
“We are one of only a few doubles pairings who have managed to improve year on year. After an almost perfect season in 2016/2017, we’ve managed to do even better this year. We are delighted with our performance.”
Peter Penz (AUT / World Championship silver medallist in 2015 and World Championship bronze medallist in 2012):
“Second is a really good result. But of course Lillehammer is like a home track for us. We train here in Norway at the start of every season. But we’re over the moon.”
