It seems like most decisions have been made already before the aqotec World Cup will have its final race in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER). The result with the least points can be dropped for the calculation of the points total, but the final race cannot be dropped – this rule might lead to some surprises in the final ranking.
However, Patrick Pigneter (ITA) will win the overall World Cup for the fifth consecutive time as Thomas Schopf (AUT) who started so well into this winter, would have to catch up more than 100 points in one race. In theory this is possible, if he wins and Pigneter does not score at all, but this is not very likely considering his performance in the past. He has never been ranked worse than third, except for one crash last year. The real fight will be for the second and third places as with Thomas Schopf, Rudi Resch (ITA), Thomas Kammerlander (AUT), Anton Blasbichler (ITA) and last not least Gernot Schwab (AUT) there are fife athletes who can reach the podium. Due to his injury Gernot Schwab missed one race, so he will score full points in the final (the missed race being his drop result). In the doubles event Russia’s Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev are in the lead, but this does not really mean a lot as Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) could win four races so far. They crashed in one race, so this will be their drop result. If they win again in Garmisch-Partenkirchen they can even win the aqotec World Cup with the maximum of 500 points. Porshnev/Lazarev will loose 70 points in the final count and will most likely fall behind the Italians.
The women’s race will reveal whether Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) will win the overall world cup the seventh and fifth consecutive time or Renate Gietl (ITA) will win it for the second time in their careers. Lavrentjeva could win the last world cup race held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the season 2003/2004. Rookie Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) has come better and better in shape ever since she has won her silver medal in the European Championships, she might play an important role in the distribution of the final points. Currently she is ranked fourth in the world cup, behind Melanie Batkowski (AUT) who will also claim a spot on the podium. She has the track in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in good memory, she has become Junior World Champion for the first time in the host city of the 1936 Olympic Games.

The aqotec World Cup in Garmisch-Partenkirchen will be started with training runs on Friday, followed by the competitions runs in the doubles’ race and one women’s competition run on Saturday. It will be completed on Sunday with the singles’ decisions.

Track Info:
Length: 1100 ma
Start Elevation: 890m
Finish Elevation: 737m
Difference: 153m
Average Descent: 14,7%

Program in Garmisch-Partenkirchen:
Friday, Feb 26, 2010:
09.00am: 1.Training run men and women
01.30pm: 1.Training run doubles
02.30pm: 2.Training run doubles
06.00pm: Opening Ceremony

Saturday, Feb 27, 2010:
10.00am: 2.Training run women
afterwards: 1.competition run doubles
12.30pm: 2.competition run doubles afterwards: 1.competition run women
02.00pm: 2.Training run men

Sunday, Feb 28, 2010
10.00am: 1.competition run men
afterwards: 2.competition run women 12:00pm: 2.competition run men
02.00pm: Medal Ceremonies