Now they meet under different circumstances than four years ago
Park City (pps) In the past five years the one seemed to have a kind of subscription to win the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup rankings. And the other started collecting titles and medals at the big events like a duck takes to water. It was at the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Park City four years ago that the paths of Armin Zoeggeler of Italy and Germany’s Felix Loch crossed for the first time. And next weekend, the artificially-iced track of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games will see the fourth stop of the Viessmann Luge World Cup series in the post Olympic season.
Back then, four years ago, the casting was clear: The now 36-year old luger from South Tyrol had just successfully defended his Olympic title, achieved on his home track in Cesana in 2002 and thanks to his five World gold medals he rightfully called himself record World champion. And the other luger? Well, he was a 17-year old talent, with the commendation of a junior World Championship title. At his debut in the Viessmann Luge World Cup Felix Loch took tenth position, Armin Zoeggeler won the event.
But now the circumstances have changed. Zoeggeler is heading the overall rankings with 285 points and is thus going for this tenth overall victory. This would also mean that he could then tie up with record winner Markus Prock auf Austria. But Felix Loch, who took the 2008 and 2009 World Championship title and even won the Olympic gold medal in 2010, hopes to thwart Zoeggeler’s plans. With 230 points to his credit the 21-year old holds second position – tied with team-mate David Moeller.
“In the past we’ve already been closer to Armin Zoeggeler“, explained Germany’s head coach Norbert Loch, father of the young contender. His son makes no bones about the fact that the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup victory seems to be a quite desirable goal. “Of course this is an objective”, said Felix Loch, who won the season’s opener in Innsbruck-Igls. But then, in Winterberg and Calgary, it was Zoeggeler who eventually achieved the victories.
Next on the schedule is the World Cup event in Park City. This time Zoeggeler and Loch meet on par and on equal terms but under different circumstances than four years ago when it was more of an encounter “Olympic Champion vs Dark Horse”.
