Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt hold off Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl to claim first World Cup win this season
BySportsbeat
Published 16/12/2023 at 12:13 GMT
The German duo celebrated a 53rd career World Cup victory after coming out top in Whistler, as their second run of 38.632s ulimately proved decisive. The podium was completed by the Austrian duo of Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl, while Hannes Orlamunder and Paul Gubitz claimed their first World Cup top-three finish in third. Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal won the women's competition.
OBERHOF, GERMANY - JANUARY 27: Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt celebrate after their run in the Luge Sprint Men's Doubles Final during day 1 of the FIL Luge World Championships on January 27, 2023 in Oberhof, Germany. (Photo by Martin Rose/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
German veterans Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt claimed their first Luge World Cup win of the season by holding off in-form Austrian pair Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl in Whistler.
The newly formed duo of Steu and Kindl led at the halfway stage but Wendl and Arlt, both 36, called on all their experience with a 38.632s second run to leapfrog their rivals.
The Austrians have now finished second in all three doubles events so far this season and retain the overall lead in the discipline.
Following a 53rd career World Cup victory, Wendl said: "Racing is so much fun again. If we were to take the top of one run and the bottom of the other, we'd be very happy. But that's okay too."
Hannes Orlamunder and Paul Gubitz ensured there were two German pairs on the podium by claiming their maiden World Cup medal in third while their compatriots pulled off a one-two in the women's doubles.
Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal edged out Dajana Eitberger and Saskia Schirmer by 0.08 seconds for a victory Rosenthal was not expecting.
"The victory came as a bit of a surprise after this week," she said.
"We still had a big gap in training, but we managed it well in the race."
Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer earned bronze for Italy, slipping a place having sat second after the first run.
A day of German dominance had begun in the men's singles, won by Max Langenhan for the third time in as many races this season.
The 24-year-old stopped the clock in 1:40.093 following his second run to finish 0.26 seconds clear of Austria's Jonas Mueller, with Latvia's Kristers Aparjods in third.
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