Whistler (pps) A year ago, Germany’s head coach Norbert Loch had hoped for four gold medals at the Worlds “back home” in Altenberg. Ahead of the upcoming 44th World Championships in Whistler (Canada / February 1-2, 2013), his medal hopes have changed a bit. “We want to confirm our excellent performances of the season. However, this might not necessarily translate into a podium’s top spot,” Loch said in the run-up to the season’s highlight. Four of his protégés, however, namely Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and Tobias Wendl-Tobias Arlt, are currently at the top of the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup rankings. And this is why they are, of course, among the top favorites on the 2010 Olympic track. Not to mention the Team Relay event as Germany has won all four Viessmann Team Relay World Cup events presented by HÖRMANN this season. Just a year ahead of the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi - with the Team Relay event part of the Olympic program for the very first time - Germany is the absolute top title candidate in this event. Host Canada, with its well-synchronized quartet, is also hoping for a medal in the Team Relay. The same holds true for Russia, the 2012 World silver medalists, and Italy. Even though Italian head coach Walter Plaikner will have to do without Armin Zoeggeler. The six-time World Champion, who has competed in all World Championships since 1993 and collected 10 medals (6-3-1), is suffering from back problems. Defending Champion Tatjana Huefner of Germany had the same problems. This is why “local hero” Alex Gough will surely be in the focus as the 25-year old has won two Viessmann Luge World Cup events, and claimed Canada’sonly World Championship medal in the women’s singles 2011. Moreover, she will surely have an advantage competing in front of a home crowd. Last year, Austria thwarted Norbert Loch’s medal hopes right away when the Linger-Linger brothers, Andreas and Wolfgang, claimed gold and compatriots Peter Penz-Georg Fischler the bronze medal in the doubles. Linger-Linger, who earned the podium’s top spot at the World Championship “rehearsal” in Winterberg, will be returning to Whistler where they celebrated their second Olympic victory in 2010. The ambitious Russian lugers are hoping to have a say when the medals are handed out. At the Olympic Games they claimed two fourth-place finishes (Tatiana Ivanova, Albert Demchenko) and a 10th place result thanks to the doubles of Vladimir Yuzhakov-Vladimir Makhnutin.