Not everything has settled yet: Felix Loch inflicts the first defeat of the season on the Austrian lugers and his former mentor Georg Hackl. But the record world champion has to stand alone against the seemingly overwhelming competition.
Toboggan record world champion Felix Loch has come back impressively in the fight with the Austrians, who seemed to be overpowering recently – and thus also inflicted the first defeat of the season on former mentor Georg Hackl. On the first “neutral” track of the winter in Whistler, Canada, Loch unexpectedly celebrated his 50th World Cup victory on Saturday night German time.
At the start last weekend, Austria had landed a quadruple victory in Innsbruck, Loch was far behind – and then even fell badly. “It was time that the five were finally up front,” said Loch, referring to his anniversary, “and it’s nice to be at the top again. After the past week, that’s particularly good.”
The German women also convinced on the difficult track in Whistler, led by world champion Julia Taubitz, they took places two to five. Loch took on the international competition alone, the second best German was David Nössler in 13th place. It was a close, high-class race at the top: the Austrian ex-world champion Wolfgang Kindl finished second, 34 thousandths behind, Dominik Fischnaller from Italy with 70 thousandths distance third.
In a track where none of the established nations have an advantage, Austria confirmed their resurgence under Hackl. The German toboggan icon has been working as a trainer for the competition since the summer – but after the clear results in Innsbruck, the field now seemed much more balanced, both for men and women.
“I don’t want to say that everything has been put right,” said Loch, “but we don’t have to worry that the Austrians will drive us in the face and we won’t see a country anymore.” However, the Austrian Madeleine Egle remains the only winner of the young season. The 24-year-old had won the classic World Cup and the sprint in Innsbruck, and she was also ahead in the World Cup in Whistler. Taubitz was only 24 thousandths behind. The 19-year-old junior Merle Fräbel celebrated the first podium in third place in what was only her second World Cup race. Right behind them were Dajana Eitberger and Olympic silver medalist Anna Berreiter.