Olympic Squads Selected – Attention Turns to Battle for Overall World Cup Victory - Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and Eggert-Benecken in the Lead

Olympic squads selected – attention turns to battle for overall World Cup victory - Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and Eggert-Benecken in the lead

Lillehammer (RWH) The Olympic line-ups are now complete. After Germany, the USA and Canada had selected their lugers, Italy, Austria and Latvia have now followed suit and announced their squads for the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, from February 9-15, 2018.

Ahead of the penultimate Viessmann World Cup of the season in the Norwegian town of Lillehammer next weekend (January 20-21, 2018), the only outstanding decisions now relate to the third place in the Austrian team and the nomination of the team of independent athletes for Russia. All eyes will be on the 1994 Olympic city as the battle for the Joska Crystal Cups for the overall winner of the individual luge events looks set to intensify.

Natalie Geisenberger, Felix Loch and Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken (all GER) currently lead the standings as the luge circus moves to Lillehammer, which hosted the 2nd Youth Olympic Games in 2016. Geisenberger, the 2014 Olympic Champion, currently has 795 points, giving her a comfortable lead over her teammate Dajana Eitberger on 618 points. The current World Champions Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken currently have a healthy 218- point cushion over the chasing pack led by Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER). And Felix Loch has a 103-point advantage over World Champion Wolfgang Kindl (AUT).

There are now just four events remaining before the season finale. As in Lillehammer, the following weekend’s event in Sigulda will also feature the Olympic luge disciplines along with one men’s, women’s and doubles race in the BMW Sprint World Cup. Sigulda will also host the finale of the Viessmann Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW.

Tatyana Ivanova, Kindl and Wendl/Arlt took victory three years ago

Lillehammer (RWH) The Olympic track in Lillehammer last hosted a Viessmann World Cup three years ago. Tatyana Ivanova (RUS), Wolfgang Kindl (AUT) and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER) were the winners in the 2014/2015 winter season.

Two years ago, the Hunderfossen track hosted the 2nd Youth Olympic Games. Brooke Apshkrum (CAN), Kristers Aparjods (LAT), Felix Schwarz/Lukas Gufler (ITA) and the German relay team (Jessica Tiebel, Max Langenhan, Hannes Orlamünder/Paul Gubitz) all won gold. The gold medallists at the 1994 Olympic Games were Gerda Weissensteiner (ITA), Georg Hackl (GER) and Kurt Brugger/Wilfried Huber (ITA).

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Junior duo Nagler/Malleier selected for Italian Olympic squad

Lillehammer (RWH) They may be competing in only their first Viessmann World Cup season, but they have already made it to the Olympics. Ivan Nagler, who celebrates his 19th birthday on January 30, 2018, and Fabian Malleier, who turned 20 on January 4, 2018, have been selected by head coach Armin Zöggeler and his coaching staff to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang from February 9-25.

As a result, Nagler/Malleier, who qualified for the Olympics with a sixth place finish at the Viessmann World Cup in Altenberg and seventh in Königssee, have plenty of excitement in store in early February. The duo will compete in the Junior World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Altenberg, Germany (February 2-3, 2018), before heading straight for South Korea.

In addition to Nagler/Malleier, the Italian Luge Federation also selected the doubles pairing of Ludwig Rieder/Patrick Rastner, who started the season well with a second place finish in Innsbruck and fourth in Winterberg. The experienced pairing of Christian Oberstolz/Patrick Gruber, who are competing in their 21st World Cup season, were not selected. They have previously competed in four Winter Games and just missed out on a medal in 2010 when they finished fourth.

Sandra Robatscher and Andrea Vötter will be sporting the Italian colors in the women’s event, while the men’s squad consists of the current World Championship bronze medallist Dominik Fischnaller, his cousin Kevin Fischnaller who won in Winterberg, and Emanuel Rieder.

Sics brothers lead the Latvian Olympic squad

Oberhof (RWH) The Sics brothers, Andris and Juris, are set to lead the Latvian Olympic squad at the Winter Games in PyeongChang. The pair, who won Olympic silver in 2010 and bronze in 2014, are part of the 10-strong squad.

In addition to Sics/Sics, who won a second bronze medal in the team relay in 2014, Oskars Gudramovics/Peteris Kalnins were also selected to compete in the doubles. In the women’s event, Eliza Cauce, Ulla Zirne and Kendija Aparjode will all be sporting Latvian colours. Kristers Aparjods, Inars Kivlenieks, and Arturs Darznieks were all selected to compete in the men’s event.

Austria picks Olympic team

Oberhof (RWH) The Austrian Luge Association (ÖRV) has selected its Olympic squad following the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Oberhof. In the men’s event, World Champion Wolfgang Kindl will lead the team at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea, from February 9-25, 2018. The coaching staff headed by sporting director Markus Prock awarded the second berth to Reinhard Egger, who finished fourth at Oberhof. Last spot will be decided in Lillehammer among David Gleirscher, Armin Frauscher and Nico Gleirscher.

In the women’s event, Austria’s red, white, and red flag will be sported by Birgit Platzer, currently 12th in the overall Viessmann World Cup standings, Madeleine Egle, third at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer (NOR), and Hannah Prock, second in the Junior European Championships in 2017. In doubles, a nation’s hopes rest with Peter Penz/Georg Fischler, five-time podium finishers this winter, and Lorenz Koller/Thomas Steu.

The Lillehammer timetable

Sunday 20 January 2018 1st run, women’s singles 09:05 2nd run, women’s singles 10:25 1st run, doubles 11:45 2nd run, doubles 13:05 Sunday 21 January 2018 1st run, men’s singles 09:15 2nd run, men’s singles 10:45 BMW Sprint From 12:45

Overview of season winners

Event Location Men Women Doubles 1. Viessmann World Cup Innsbruck Semen Pavlichenko Natalie Geisenberger Eggert/Benecken 17/18 November 2017 GER RUS GER GER

2. Viessmann World Cup Winterberg Kevin Fischnaller Natalie Geisenberger Eggert/Benecken 25/26 November 2017 GER ITA GER GER 1. BMW Sprint World Cup Winterberg Felix Loch Emily Sweeney Wendl-Arlt 26 November 2017 GER GER USA GER

3. Viessmann World Cup Altenberg Felix Loch Natalie Geisenberger Eggert/Benecken 02/03 December 2017 GER GER GER GER

4. Viessmann World Cup Calgary Felix Loch Tatjana Hüfner Eggert/Benecken 08/09 December 2017 CAN GER GER GER

5. Viessmann World Cup Lake Placid Roman Repilov Natalie Geisenberger Eggert/Benecken 15/16 December 2017 USA RUS GER GER 2. BMW Sprint World Cup Lake Placid Wolfgang Kindl Dajana Eitberger Eggert/Benecken 16 December 2017 USA AUT GER GER

6. Viessmann World Cup Königssee Wolfgang Kindl Natalie Geisenberger Wendl-Arlt 06/07 January 2018 GER AUT GER GER

7. Viessmann World Cup Oberhof Felix Loch Dajana Eitberger Eggert-Benecken 13/14 January 2018 GER GER GER GER 8. Viessmann World Cup Lillehammer 20/21 January 2018 NOR 3. BMW Sprint World Cup Lillehammer 21 January 2018 NOR 9. Viessmann World Cup Sigulda 27/28 January 2018 LAT 4. BMW Sprint World Cup Sigulda Sunday 28 January 2018 LAT Felix Loch Natalie Geisenberger Eggert/Benecken Overall 9 / 13 GER / 671 points GER / 795 points GER / 870 points