Luge World Championships: "Two straight runs down" and frustration reduction

Despite sprint gold for Julia Taubitz and sprint silver for Max Langenhan, the lugers are not really satisfied after the first four of nine races at the home World Championships in Altenberg. "We'll put our frustration into the start, do two clean runs and let ourselves be carried away by the great atmosphere here," announced six-time double Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt. The highly decorated Bavarians, runners-up in the sprint last year in Oberhof, only finished seventh in Altenberg on Friday.

In adverse weather conditions, last year's sprint world champions Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal finished even further back in 14th place. "It was difficult. The weather didn't play into our hands," said Degenhardt. The 21-year-old wants to quickly put the failed race behind her, attack again and win the doubles title as she did in Oberhof: "We're moving on."

In the previous year, the German lugers won eight out of nine World Championship titles and a further eight medals. After the opening Friday, eight out of twelve possible medals were in the balance. So far, Taubitz has won gold and Langenhan silver in the Osterzgebirge.

The highlight on Saturday in the Altenberg ice track is the single-seater race with sprint silver medallist Langenhan and three-time Olympic champion Felix Loch. "In terms of the sled, it fits quite well. It will be dry again tomorrow, so it will be a different race," said the sprint fourth from Bavaria on Friday. The 34-year-old is confident: "If I go straight down twice, then that'll be enough."

Maybe World Cup leader Langenhan's wish will come true after all and he will join Loch on the World Cup podium. "In the end, it would be cool if we both had a medal hanging around our necks."

Winning the single-seater competition is Langenhan's favorite. "In the end, of course, it's this title that counts, which you can also win at the Olympics. It's simply the single-seater title. The sprint is not yet available at the Olympics." The World Championships end on Sunday with the women's singles and the team relay.