Luge

Wolfgang Kindl second in the single-seater in Lillehammer

Wolfgang Kindl

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur/APA/EXPA/STEFAN ADELSBERGER)

Wolfgang Kindl secured another podium finish for Austria at the Luge World Cup in Lillehammer on Sunday. The 36-year-old Tyrolean was only beaten by Germany's Max Langenhan, with Kindl missing out on victory by 0.027 seconds. Langenhan was delighted with his 15th World Cup success. The other ÖRV pilots Nico Gleirscher and Jonas Müller finished seventh and eighth, Olympic champion David Gleirscher was 13th.

In the new mixed competitions in the single-seater and doubles, the ÖRV teams were unable to secure a podium finish. Kindl/Lisa Schulte and Nico Gleirscher/Barbara Allmaier finished sixth and seventh respectively in the mixed single-seater, while Thomas Steu/Kindl and Selina Egle/Lara Kipp finished eighth in the doubles.

After third place in the doubles with Thomas Steu on Saturday, it was Kindl's second podium finish at the World Cup opener, and this after overcoming an illness of Pfeiffer's glandular fever and an associated difficult time with an absolute ban on sport last September.

Kindl "mega-happy"
 "It was difficult to adjust the equipment to the much warmer conditions compared to training. In the first run the set-up was a bit too secure, but in the second it was perfect. Not much was missing in the single, but of course I'm mega happy," said the Tyrolean. A total of four races for the veteran meant a mammoth program. "Of course it's very pleasing that it's working out like this, but I still have to manage my strength well."

Kindl and the entire team are now looking forward to the home World Cup in Igls. "Igls is one of my favorite tracks, the home crowd always gives me extra horsepower."

ÖRV head coach Christian Eigentler summed up the World Cup opener with satisfaction. "We definitely still have room for improvement here and there, but I think we can definitely be satisfied with the start, especially as it was brutally difficult in terms of the set-up," said the coach. But the starting position ahead of Igls is very positive.