There are now three German stations in the Toboggan World Cup before the World Cup in Canada in February. It starts this weekend (January 11th and 12th) in Altenberg, Saxony. The German team is particularly hungry for success in the single-seater competitions. In the end, the eternal rival Austria was always ahead.
The German lugers haven’t really gotten going yet this season, at least not in the single-seater. After a promising start, the Austrians, who were coached by former German model luger Georg Hackl, among others, have overtaken the dominators of the previous season in the last few weeks.
There was great hope in the German team that they would be able to build on the successes of last winter. Especially after the first weekend in Lillehammer, Norway at the end of November/beginning of December. Five of the six races went to black-red-gold; last year’s overall winners Julia Taubitz and Max Langenhan were immediately back with victories.
“Tracht Beating” in Innsbruck – “Hiding” in Oberhof
But then the engine sputtered. The following World Cup in Innsbruck-Igls was a demonstration of power by the Alpine republic, which claimed seven of the twelve podium places. From one “Beating” Langenhan spoke afterwards. But the German team didn’t seem to have drawn the right conclusions. At least not all of them. While local heroes Hannes Orlamünder and Paul Gubitz won the doubles in Oberhof and Taubitz took third place, Langenhan lost after one “bottomless bad” Imagining his World Cup lead and then just wanted to “just hide”.
In the end, Taubitz not only had to give way to her teammate Merle Fräbel (2nd place) in Sigulda, she also lost her lead in the overall World Cup to an Austrian. Even if the gap to Lisa Schulte is minimal by one point, the trend is currently not the German team’s friend. Red-White-Red currently has a lead, especially in the material area. And “Hackl Schorsch” is responsible for the sleigh.
The three-time Olympic champion and ten-time world champion was already considered an inventor during his playing days. After several years as a technical trainer at the Bobsleigh and Sled Association of Germany (BSD), he switched sides almost three years ago. In addition to the challenge of leaving his own comfort zone, it was ultimately the offer from the Austrian association that prompted him to change.
Austria was also ahead at the last World Cup
But since, as we all know, hope dies last, the German team will not simply surrender to its fate. Last year they demonstrated how strong Taubitz, Langenhan and Co. can be on the demanding track in the Erzgebirge. Taubitz won World Championship gold in the sprint and silver in the regular single-seater race, Langenhan did it the other way around.
They also won the team relay together with Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt and Dajana Eitberger/Saskia Schimmer. Nevertheless, one nation was better – Austria, of course. In the final tally, the tobogganers from the Alpine republic received one gold (4:3) and one silver (3:2) medal more than the hosts.
Langenhan knows where he “has to go”
But there is confidence in the German team. “I think we’re well positioned there. I hope that the track is a little different than it was a few weeks ago for testing. Then we’re looking forward to a nice World Cup at home in Altenberg.”explained head coach Patric Leitner.
Langenhan has also dared to come out of his “hiding” again and is in attack mode. “I think I’ve always had really good races in Altenberg over the last few years, so I’m actually very confident.”he said. “I just hope that I can take the flow with me from Sigulda and then in Altenberg I’ll just know where I have to go in order to set fast times there.”