Click the link for YouTube video of the World Cup 2
Sunday, December 19, 2010
20th World Cup victory for Patrick Pigneter
With his 20th World Cup victory Patrick Pigneter (ITA) tied Anton Blasbichler's (ITA) record – also 20 victories in World Cup. The Italian Pigneter was fastest in the second run and could gain two ranks and won (anniversary victory). Pigneter: "In the first run a made a mistake and I crashed into the boards – in my 'favorite' curve … Today I wasn't the one to be chased. An exceptional situation." The Italian managed it very well. „I couldn't believe that this was enough but: I am happy …" Concerning his anniversary victory Pigneter answered relaxed, „I don't know how often I have already won. That's not that important."
Second, like yesterday: Rober Batkowski (AUT). The Austrian was very happy about his second places. "Of course I am very satisfied with the season's kick-off in Novouralsk. Last year it wasn't easy for me and therefore I am delighted to go back to Austria with 170 points in overall World Cup. 16 hundredths behind: Gernot Schwab (AUT), leader after the first competition run. Schwab: "The first run was very good. It's good to know that I can still be that fast. I changed my material a little bit and it worked quite well. The second run wasn't that good. Annoying, but I am happy that I am still on the podium."
Perfect kick-off for Ekatharina Lavrentjeva
Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) also won the second World Cup race in Novouralsk. In her homeland she had two good runs "but they weren't perfect", she said. "I am not yet in a good shape but on flat tracks it doesn't really matter. In Europe the tracks are faster and therefore I have to train a lot. But now I am very happy."
"Only" second in the second race: Melanie Batkowski (AUT). "The race was fine today. Both runs were not perfect but the finish times were still pleasant." Third place – It couldn't be different in Novouralsk – Renate Gietl (ITA). "I don't really care. Sixth race and sixth time rank 3. I don't like the track so much and a third place is okay. And also my finish times were quite good", the Italian said.
Home victory for Porshnev/Lazarev in the second Doubles World Cup
The Russian duo Pavel Porshnev and Ivan Lazarev celebrated – after rank 2 in the first World Cup – a victory in the second competition and repeated their results from last year – In 2009 they also became second and first in the Doubles. "We are very happy, it is great to win here in Russia", they said smiling.
Second behind the Russian duo: Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara (ITA). After the victory in the first World Cup competition they only became second. "We made mistakes in both runs but we take 185 points for the overall World Cup with us. And that's great", Clara said. Third place: the second Russian duo Aleksandr Egorov and Petr Popov.
World Cup 2010/11 will be continued with the competitions in Gsies (ITA) from January 14th - 16th, 2011.
Best wishes,
Edith Steinkellner
Mag. (FH) Edith Steinkellner
Medien- und Kommunikationsberaterin
mensch & marke
Kommunikation, die bewusst macht.
BÜRO WIEN: Kuefsteingasse 17-19, 2. OG, 1140 Wien
M: +43 664 246 90 81
F: +43 1 786 59 64
Pigneter and Lavrentjeva win first singles races
Second World Cup competition, second victory. Patrick Pigneter (ITA) also won the men's singles race, was leader after the first run and made the second a "safety run". His first comment: "I am really surprised that it worked so well for me. In the first run I still made some mistakes and the training runs also weren't perfect. It seems as if I can grow a lot in the race." Despite the mistakes Pigneter was the fastest in the first run – the second one was "just a 'safety run'. I often lost a race because I risked too much. That's why I became more cautious." Pigneter already celebrated his third victory in Novouralsk and continued his successes at the end of last season (victories in Latzfons and Garmisch). Second behind Pigneter: Robert Batkowski (AUT) who hadn't been on the podium since January 2009 (third in Umhausen). He finished on the podium for the 16th time. Third athlete on the podium: Michael Scheikl (AUT) who was very happy about his top-3-result after a bad season. "I am very satisfied because last year it was very difficult for me. Tomorrow I would like to repeat today's good result or grow a little bit."
In the women's single also the odds-on favorite became first: Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) won – like last year – the first World Cup competition of the season in her homeland. Lavrentjeva was very happy after the race. "That was a good start into the season for me and I am delighted about it. The first race is very important for me. The people at the track encouraged me." She was the fastest in both runs and won easily. Second and third place: Melanie Batkowski (AUT) and Renate Gietl (ITA). Melanie Batkowski became second in Novouralsk – already for the third time. And the other two competitions were won by the Austrian athlete. Her plans for tomorrow's second World Cup competition: "This year we started exactly the same way as last year – Ekatharina won and I finished second and then, in the second race, it was just the other way round. And this might happen again this year … Today my second run was quite okay and that's a good feeling for tomorrow", Batkowski was already looking forward to the revenge. Third place: for the fifth time in the fifth race in Novouralsk: Renate Gietl. "It seems as if the third place was dedicated for me but I am not satisfied. It is very difficult to win the overall World Cup if you become "only" third here in Russia. Melanie and Ekatharina are too constant", Gietl said after the race. "The flat track is not one of my favorites but I am happy about my finish times because I could close the gap between the two girls and me."
On Sunday, the second World Cup races – Doubles, singles Women and Men – will take place.
Best wishes,
Edith Steinkellner
Mag. (FH) Edith Steinkellner
Medien- und Kommunikationsberaterin
mensch & marke
Kommunikation, die bewusst macht.
BÜRO WIEN: Kuefsteingasse 17-19, 2. OG, 1140 Wien
M: +43 664 246 90 81
F: +43 1 786 59 64
Victory for Pigneter/Clara (ITA) in the first Doubles World Cup in Novouralsk (RUS)
Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara (ITA) celebrated their first victory in the new season in the first Doubles World Cup – and were the fastest in both runs. The Italian duo already celebrated its 16th World Cup victory. "We are very happy with this successful start of the season – especially after our big mistake at the start", Patrick Pigneter explained after the race. Pigneter: "The starting area was frozen and I slept when we started." Therefore, their start was very slow and yet they had the fastest intermediate time after 24 seconds. Also Florian Clara was happy about the victory and said, "That's a good kick-off for us and we are now looking forward to the second race on Sunday." Last year they had bad luck in the second race and made a big mistake in the second run. "Of course we try to avoid such a mistake this year", the Italians confirm.
The Russian duo Pavel Porshnev and Ivan Lazarev became second – last year and also now, after the first race: rank 2 in overall World Cup behind Pigneter/Clara. Porshnev/Lazarev were third after the first run. With a fast second run they passed by Christian Schatz and Gerhard Mühlbacher (AUT). Ivan Lazarev: "We are very satisfied with the race. It's a good feeling to be on the podium here in Russia."
On Saturday, December 11th, 2010, World Cup will be continued with the first women's and men's races.
Best wishes,
Edith Steinkellner
Mag. (FH) Edith Steinkellner
Medien- und Kommunikationsberaterin
mensch & marke
Kommunikation, die bewusst macht.
BÜRO WIEN: Kuefsteingasse 17-19, 2. OG, 1140 Wien
M: +43 664 246 90 81
F: +43 1 786 59 64
World Cup Opening 2010/11 at the Urals
With two races right at the border between Europe and Asia the new World Cup season on natural track. Novouralsk/Yekaterinburg (RUS) is already venue of the World Cup opening for the second time. And like last year, the season starts with a double World Cup. From December 9th - 12th the athletes are racing for the first points. For the athletes Russia is already the first highlight of the season because a third of all World Cup points is available there. Novouralsk offers a very special atmosphere. The track in Novouralsk (70 km north of Yekaterinburg) has been reconstructed only some years ago is now ready for the Opening of the 19th World Cup season.
Also ready: all athletes and especially the overall World Cup winners Patrick Pigneter (ITA), Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) and Patrick Pigneter's partner in double seater Florian Clara (ITA). On the whole, 16 nations will be on the start this season, in Russia up to eight nations will compete in the first World Cup races. In the men's event Patrick Pigneter will be chased, just like in the past years. His first challengers: Thomas Schopf (AUT) who won both World Cup races in Russia last year, Gernot Schwab (AUT) who became second in overall World Cup 2009/10 and Anton Blasbichler (ITA) and Thomas Kammerlander (AUT). In the women's event Renate Gietl (ITA), reigning World Champion, and Melanie Batkowski, last year second and first place in Novouralsk, will be Ekatharina Lavrentjeva's (RUS) first challengers. Melanie Batkowski especially likes the track at Ural. She celebrated both World Cup victories of her career there and wasn't ranked worse than second in each of the four World Cup races in Novouralsk. Titleholder in Russia in the double seaters' competition: Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara (ITA) and Pavel Porshnev and Ivan Lazarev (RUS). Christian und Andreas Schopf (AUT) – third in overall World Cup – want to continue their successful season finish (victory in Garmisch-Partenkirchen). An exciting kick-off is guaranteed.
FIL and Würz Energy are ready for the World Cup on Natural Track 2010/11
The World Cup winter is ready to take off. On Wednesday, November 17th, 2010, the President of the International Luge Federation, Josef Fendt, opened the World Cup season 2010/11 with the traditional kick-off press conference. Highlight: the presentation of the new main sponsor Würz Energy. "We are delighted that we could gain Würz Energy as title sponsor for the World Cup on natural track and we are proud of this cooperation. I also want to thank all our sponsors – Zauner, Trenker and Aqotec – who will still support us", Josef Fendt, President of the FIL, and Vice-President Alfred Jud – responsible for marketing and TV – emphasized. The contract with Würz Energy was signed for two years. The German company works as provider for renewable energy. "The athletes on natural track as well as our company emphasize on nature. That's a very important common value on which our cooperation is based", Würz Energy Executive Vice President Theo-Josef Beisch said, describing the cooperation.
The kick-off for the Würz Energy World Cup on natural track takes place in Novouralsk/Ekaterinburg (RUS) – and the season starts with a double World Cup. From December 9th - 12th the athletes are racing for their first points. The Austrian athlete Florian Batkowski is looking forward to the first World Cup races: "Russia is already the first highlight of the season. The atmosphere is very special and the low temperatures are a challenge for all athletes." Russia and the FIL are ready, the track which has been reconstructed only some years ago in Novouralsk (70 km north of Ekaterinburg) is prepared – for the opening of the 19th World Cup season. FIL President Josef Fendt promises, "We will have excellent conditions in Russia – Novouralsk is very eager to support the World Cup on natural track." Novouralsk has already been venue of last year's kick-off for an exciting season. The further World Cup destinations this winter will be: Gsies (ITA), Kindberg (AUT) und Unterammergau (GER). The World Cup finals of this season will take place in Olang (ITA) – venue of the FIL European Championships 2008 and World Championships in 2000. From February 25th - 27th, 2011, the athletes will race for the last World Cup points for the overall World Cup and for the crystal globes.
The total highlight of the season: the World Championships in Umhausen (AUT) from January 26th - 30th, 2011. The WCH-venue is well prepared, final adjustments are underway. Ten years have gone by since Austria hosted FIL World Championships on natural track the last time. Renate Gietl (ITA), reigning World Champion and title defender could win the silver medal in 2001 already. The further reigning World Champions are Patrick Pigneter (ITA) in the men's single event as well as together with his congenial partner Florian Clara (ITA) in the doubles' event. Patrick Pigneter is looking forward to the World Cup and the World Championships. "Officials, athletes, fans, they are all looking forward to the beginning of the World Cup and of course to the World Championships in Ötztal (AUT). I am already very excited about the Championships in Umhausen. I am sure, it will be a very special experience."
Additionally to the six World Cup races and the World Championships in Umhausen there are two more important events: FIL World Junior Championships in Laas (ITA) and FIL Youth Games in St. Sebastian (AUT).
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