Luger Max Langenhan remains the measure of all things this season. At the home World Cup in Winterberg, the 24-year-old vice world champion achieved his fourth victory of the season. He was then also successful with the German team relay team.
Langenhan (Friedrichroda) won in a close competition on Sunday (January 7th, 2024) just ahead of the Italian Dominik Fiwickeler (+0.176 seconds) and thus maintained his commanding lead in the overall World Cup.
The Latvian Kristos Aparjods also made it onto the podium (+0.182). Felix Loch (Berchtesgarden) was also able to gain a few places and came fourth (+0.247). The German young hopes Timon Grancagnolo (Chemnitz/+0.545) and David Nößler (Schmalkalden/+0.923) came eighth and eleventh.
Tenth World Cup victory in a row for Langenhan
Langenhan seems to be dominating the World Cup this winter at will. The 24-year-old won all of his first three single-seater competitions and even won his tenth World Cup victory across all seasons in Winterberg. He is now the “Draft horse” for the German team, said national coach Norbert Loch in the Sportschau, “it drives like it comes from another planet.”
His son, record world champion Felix Loch, always came up short. At the World Cup in Whistler (Canada) he even ended up in second to last place. It was only at the German championships at the end of December that the long undisputed number one in the German team was able to put a small damper on his rival. And the three-time Olympic champion also rode stronger again in Winterberg.
Langenhan keeps Filehner at a distance
Langenhan was simply a class better that day. He laid the foundation for his success with a strong first run that was hard to beat in terms of excitement. Only four thousandths of a second separated him from Fischnelller, who in turn delivered a fantastic ride without any mistakes. Behind them, two Austrians, Jonas Müller and Wolfgang Kindl, had positioned themselves in a promising position. After a mixed ride, Loch needed to catch up in seventh place, 0.21 seconds behind.
This time in the final he showed himself to be significantly improved, got off to a good start right from the start and also mastered the labyrinth without any mistakes. With this, Loch made a good leap forward, as Müller and Kindl were unable to maintain their momentum from the first run. “I would have liked to be on the podium, but in general it’s pretty good” said Loch.
Langenhan struggles: “Too bad at the start”
In the fight for the day’s victory, Fiwickeler was ahead, but didn’t have an optimal ride. Langenhan still had to deliver – and that’s what he did: Despite only having the ninth best start time, he gradually caught up in the ice track and brought home the victory.
However, he was not completely satisfied because he missed the desired track record. “It was my fault that it didn’t work out. I was simply too bad at the start and also on the track. But I’m still happy that I won. That comes first“Langenhan said.
The German team relay also shines
Langenhan and his teammates also dominated the team relay at the end of the competition in Sauerland.
Together with Anna Berreiter and the doubles Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt and Cheyenne Rosenthal/Jessica Degenhardt, he won the mixed competition in 3:11.425 minutes ahead of Austria (+0.043 seconds) and the USA (+1.251) for the second time this season.
Saturday: Taubitz reports back
In the women’s single-seater, Julia Taubitz narrowly missed out on victory the day before behind Madeleine Egle. The overall World Cup leader fell at the German championships at the end of last year, so a start in Winterberg was in the balance for a long time. The team relay left the Saxon out.
The doubles team Rosenthal/Degenhardt celebrated their second win of the season on Saturday. The three-time Olympic champions Wendl/Arlt had to settle for second place in the doubles despite a strong race to catch up.
Next weekend, the German lugers will stop off in Innsbruck-Igls (Austria) before the home World Championships in Altenberg, Saxony, at the end of January.