After the World Cup is before the World Cup. At least in Oberhof. After the exciting toboggan festival, the small town in the Thuringian Forest is looking forward to a lot of attention and the approaching Biathlon World Championships.
German golden hamsters, 16,000 spectators and a lot of warm words: The luge world championships in wintry Oberhof was a complete success and increases the anticipation of the Biathlon World Cup, which begins on February 8th.
“The world experienced great luge competitions in Oberhof, full of atmosphere, excitement and perfect organization. The sporting state of Thuringia presented itself in an outstanding way,” praised Thuringia’s Sports Minister Helmut Holter on the final day. The Free State had in advance 83 million euros invested in sports facilities and the region and hopes for attention, from which the small town with its 1,600 inhabitants will benefit.
Roaring German World Cup festival in Oberhof
The German lugers paid back the investment with great competitions and thus ensured an all-round perfect world championship. Eight of the nine gold medals went to the BSD athletes, whose dominance was overwhelming. One medal after the other was fished out of the state-of-the-art ice channel – only in The men’s single-seater was an Austrian the fastest. There was cheering nonetheless, thanks to the local hero and crowd favourite Max Langenhan, who finished second. “Silver feels like gold today. I’m very happy with these sensational fans here. They would have caught me if I had been 30th,” said Langenhan, whose second living room is Oberhof and who only arrived late in the season after a serious hand injury the season could start.
Eitberger provides toboggan fairy tales
The toboggan nation of Germany was literally on cloud nine. They were already celebrating on the first day of competition Quadruple victory for women in the sprint. That Dajana Eitberger of all people won was almost too cheesy to be true. The 32-year-old was born in Ilmenau and grew up on the track in Oberhof. There, where it all began, she became world champion at her last World Championships as a single starter. future will Eitberger in a double seater to go.
Goldschmied Loch: relaxation instead of partying
The gold medals for Felix Loch and the two doubles athletes Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken and Jessica Degenhardt/Cheyenne Rosenthal almost lost in the sprint races on Friday. The title spectacle continued on Saturday with the next three gold medals. On the final day, the trumped Series on. Goldschmied and trainer Norbert Loch raved about “a great team performance”, but decided against the big championship party. “The athletes are still having a little party, but I’ll get in the car, drive home and come down for two days,” said the 60-year-old. The World Cup in Altenberg continues at the weekend.
Oberhof can only take a breather and be happy about the successful World Cup. “The last few days have made it clear that the heart of international tobogganing beats in Oberhof,” concluded the President of the Thuringian Tobogganing and Bobsleigh Association, Andreas Minschke, and expressly praised the track crew, who ensured perfect ice every day.
Biathletes already in the starting blocks
Oberhof doesn’t need ice in two weeks. From February 8th, the Biathlon World Cup is the next sporting event on the agenda. When the world’s best biathletes aren’t fighting for the titles, the cross-country ski run has to be perfectly groomed, the fog has to give the arena a wide berth and the wind has to die down as much as possible. If things go as smoothly as they did at the Toboggan World Championships, nothing stands in the way of the next festival.
Sanny Stephan
