European Ski Champions Steu/Kindl win in Oberhof

European champions Thomas Stew/Wolfgang Kindl claimed their second World Cup victory at the start of the ski races on the synthetic track in Oberhof. In women's doubles, Austria celebrated third place.

Despite a deterioration in track quality due to warm weather, Thomas Stew and Wolfgang Kindl maintained their lead in the first half on Saturday and won by 0.123 seconds ahead of local Thuringian champions Hannes Urlamunder/Paul Konstantin Goebitz and 0.190 seconds ahead of compatriots Tobias Wendl/Tobias. Arlt. In the women's doubles, Selena Eagle/Lara Cape came in third place.

Steu/Kindl continued their overall World Cup lead, with Wendl/Arlt now 111 points behind the ÖRV duo. It was also a lovely birthday present for Stew, as the Vorarlberg native turned 30 on Friday. “Fantastic, especially in a German stronghold,” said the helmsman. Kindle stated in the ORF interview that they were driving at the limit due to the conditions, but everything was under control. Their compatriots Jannick Müller/Armin Fraucher (+0.436) and world champions Jurij Gat/Ricardo Schopf (+0.486) were fifth and sixth respectively.

Eagle/Kip also held the lead in the first run, but were pushed away in the field of twelve sleds in the second run by Germans Jessica Degenhardt/Cheyenne Rosenthal and Italians Andrea Futter/Marion Oberhofer (+0.033). The difference between the two Austrians, who are third in the World Cup overall, was 0.121 seconds. The women's single-seater race takes place on the program on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. (Live ORF Sport+). Men's single seat and team relay (1:30 p.m.).