If there was a pole position for today?s Europa Cup luge event, Patrick Singleton would have it.

Bermuda?s Winter Olympian finished fastest in all three practice runs and is feeling confident ahead of the first Europa Cup series race of the Olympic year at Igls, in Austria.

Singleton, who spent much of last year finishing in or around 15th at these events, is hoping to translate his strong official practice times into competitive ones, but admits competition will be tough.

?This is a very, very strong field,? said Singleton, who now trains with the British OIympic team ahead of the Torino Games which start in just 90 days. There is a big field of about 70 but everyone is in incredible form. It is an Olympic year and everyone has obviously been putting in the work.?

Singleton feels he is in the shape of his life after an exhaustive summer of training, particularly on his start, the weakest part of his armoury.

?I was very pleased with my starts,? said Singleton, who will compete this afternoon over two races. That is where I was struggling to keep up with the others. I have never had any problems with my driving, but I was too far behind to make up the times.

?But thanks to all the speed work my starts were much faster ? and they should be because that?s what I have been working on all summer ? and then my driving took care of itself.

?Hopefully I can turn these training times into a good finish in the event. It?s going to be a tough field and everyone is really up for this event so it will be hard.

?But if I can just do what I did in practice, then hopefully I can get a strong start to the season.?

Singleton?s winter campaign is focused on the Challenge Cup in early February, which serves as the qualifiers for the Olympics themselves.

For the past two years the Challenge Cup has offered World Championship places using the same complex selection procedure with Singleton qualifying on both occasions ? filling him with confidence that he can not only book a place at the Olympics but push for a medal finish.