TNT Sports
Germans slide to memorable day in Altenberg as Julia Taubitz takes Luge World Cup gold
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Published 04/02/2023 at 18:53 GMT
It was a memorable day for Germany on home ice in Altenberg as Julia Taubitz took women's singles gold and Sascha Benecken and Toni Eggert triumphed in the men's doubles. Three-time world champion Taubitz flew to victory over compatriots Anna Berreiter and Dajana Eitberger.
Julia Taubitz
Image credit: Imago
Julia Taubitz grabbed Luge World Cup glory on a jubilant day for Germany on home Altenberg ice.
The three-time world champion, 26, scorched to victory in the women's singles event as Sascha Benecken and Toni Eggert won gold in the men's doubles.
Italians Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer claimed victory in the women's but it was the hosts who stole the show on a jam-packed day of sliding in Saxony.
Taubitz led home a German one-two-three ahead of compatriots Anna Berreiter and Dajana Eitberger.
And that Germanic hegemony was replicated in the women's singles as Benecken and Eggert beat Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt to gold.
Taubitz, who sits 15 points behind Eitberger in second in the World Cup standings, said: "We were all hoping to get it down, and the fact that all three of us made it in the end is really cool. We can keep going like this!"
Eggert, 34, added: "It was an exciting fight today, especially because the Tobis were ahead again in the second run at the start.
"We didn't have such a good start. Then I knew it would be tight and tried to stretch even more than in the first run. Up to turn 17 it went well, we'll do the same again tomorrow in the team relay."
Benecken and Eggert beat Wendle and Arlt by 0.066 seconds as Latvians Martins Bots and Roberts Plume bagged bronze.
And in the women's doubles, Germans Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal finished second ahead of Austrian aces Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp.
Benecken and Eggert lead their German rivals by just a solitary point in the men's doubles overall standings while in the women's, it's Voetter and Oberhofer who sit at the summit.
Voetter, 27, said: "It was already our goal today to extend our lead in the overall World Cup and we are very happy about the victory.
"Altenberg is normally not one of our favorite tracks, but to win here with track record is something very special."
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