Wendl, Arlt win second luge World Cup race of season

World champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt claimed their second luge World Cup victory of the season on Saturday, extending their lead in the series standings.

The Germans clocked the fastest times in both runs on the Hochsauerland course to finish in a combined time of 1 minute, 27.491 seconds for their 19th career victory.

Italians Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber were second in 1:28.040, while Austrians Peter Penz and Georg Fischler tied for third place with Italians Ludwig Rieder and Patrick Rastner in 1:28.097.

Wendl and Arlt now have 285 points this winter, 80 more than any other team.

Jake Hyrns and Andrew Sherk were the top U.S. sled, placing 10th. Christian Niccum and Jayson Terdiman were 16th, one spot ahead of Matthew Mortensen and Preston Griffall.

Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken of Germany, who won last weekend's race at Igls, Austria, crashed in the second run but were unhurt.

Last year's winners, Andreas and Wolfgang Linger of Austria, skipped the event.

Chris Eissler of Germany was a surprise winner of the men's singles race on his World Cup debut in difficult conditions.

Heavy snowfall forced the cancellation of the first run and the 20-year-old Eissler claimed victory by clocking 52.938 seconds in the second.

Italy's Armin Zoeggeler was just behind in 52.982, with Germany's David Moeller third in 52.994. Olympic champion Felix Loch of Germany could only finish fourth.

Moeller sits atop the men's series standings with 240 points, 10 more than Loch.

Tucker West finished 11th to lead the U.S. contingent. Aidan Kelly was 14th, Chris Mazdzer 15th and Taylor Morris 16th for the Americans.

The women's race and the team relay are Sunday.