Eggert and Benecken kick off luge doubles season in style

The German duo – also the reigning world champions on this same Igls course earlier this year – were the stand-out pairing in a dominant display.

The produced the fastest time in both runs – the only pair to break 40 seconds in both runs to lead the Italian duo of Ludwig Rieder and Patrick Rastner home by 0.178seconds.

Eggert and Benecken's compatriots Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt were third on the opening World Cup round of the season meaning home favourites Peter Penz and Georg Fischler just missed out on the podium in fourth.

The first five races of the World Cup are absolutely pivotal this year as they will determine the final field of the Olympic luge racers at PyeongChang 2018 that begins in less than three months.

And it is Eggert and Benecken who laid down the first marker on the road to South Korea with victory here on the two-time Olympic track in Austria.