In the fight for the overall World Cup, three-time Olympic luge champion Felix Loch would have nothing against support before the season finale in Winterberg. “I have to talk to Max, maybe he’ll let me in front of me,” joked the man from Berchtesgaden to his team-mate Max Langenhan. In St. Moritz, the German duo was above any suspicion of a corresponding agreement. The runner-up world champion won the single-seater competition before Loch.
After a strong race to catch up on the natural ice track, the record world champion was only eleven thousandths of a second behind after the two runs. In the overall World Cup, however, the 33-year-old made up ground on leader Dominik Fischnaller – the Italian only finished eighth.
Before the final next weekend in Winterberg, Loch is only 36 points behind Fischnaller (757) with 721 points. “It’s going to be exciting,” said Loch on Saturday. “I let myself be surprised and try to do well again next week in Winterberg. The season went great, I would also be happy with second place in the overall World Cup.”
Loch used the moment of success, which the German women Dajana Eitberger, Julia Taubitz and world champion Anna Berreiter, as well as the victorious doubles for women and men and first place in the team relay, made perfect for a eulogy to coach Patric Leitner, combined with a hard one Swipe at his longtime mentor Georg Hackl.
“We won’t give our Leiti away for any money in the world, dear Austrians,” Loch wrote on Facebook, referring to coach Patric Leitner: “Leiti, you are the greatest for us and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do for us! Every day you give your best, you are awesome, loyal and most of all a real friend! Here’s to the next successful years together in Team Germany.”
After his successful career, Hackl worked for many years as a technical trainer for the German bobsleigh and luge association, but ten months ago surprisingly switched to the Austrian team as an advisor. Loch’s post was well received. Eitberger, who is only 90 points behind Taubitz before the last World Cup and will only be in doubles next winter, shared the post. 100 World Cup points are awarded for a win in tobogganing.
That is why there is also a national showdown for the doubles men in Hochsauerland. The six-time Olympic luge champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt lead after their victory on the natural ice rink before the last race of the winter with a 44-point lead over the world champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken.
In the women’s doubles, world champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal prevailed in Switzerland. No wonder that the tobogganists were unbeatable in the team relay on Sunday. “It was a very, very nice weekend,” said national coach Loch.
