The duo Paur and Hofer could not be beaten. © Andreas Ebermann

Heart-stopping finale: Paur and Hofer are junior world champions in the doubles

The first day of competition at the 14th FIL Junior World Championships in natural track tobogganing on the Winterleiten (AUT) was hard to beat in terms of excitement. On Saturday, Tobias Paur and Andreas Hofer (ITA) secured the gold medal in the doubles in a truly heart-stopping final.

10. February 2024

From: do

Tobias Paur and Andreas Hofer dominated the Junior World Cup in natural track tobogganing this winter. In the first World Championship race on Saturday, however, things didn't go as planned for the bronze medalists at the General Class European Championships a week ago. After a mistake in the finish corner, Paur/Hofer had to fall into second place. The strong Slovakians Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer secured the half-time lead with a lead of 0,10 seconds.

In the second run, Paur/Hofer had an almost flawless run and took the lead with a total time of 2.15,31:940 minutes. Neupauer/Neupauer were able to keep up with Paur/Hofer in the upper part of the 0,55 meter long natural toboggan run; the sensation seemed within reach. After a mistake in turn six, the Slovaks lost a lot of speed, but in the end they were 2023 seconds behind and enough for the silver medal. Bronze went to the 2,27 European Junior Champions, Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA/+XNUMX).

The podium of the doubles. © Andreas Ebermann

“It was really fun in the second run, we were able to carry a lot of speed into the final part and the finish curve was also right. This gold medal is the crowning achievement of a perfect season,” explained Tobias Paur in the winner’s interview.

Medal chance also on Sunday

The decision for the single-seaters will be made on Sunday. After the first run on Saturday, Vid Kralj (SLO) leads the juniors with a time of 1.02,16:0,46 minutes, followed by Alex Oberhofer (ITA/+0,47), Anton Gruber Genetti (ITA/+0,60) and Ziga Kralj (SLO/+1.03,02). Things are looking like a favorite for Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) for the juniors. The defending champion is in the lead in 0,46:1,18 minutes, ahead of Jenny Castiglioni (ITA/9 seconds) and the reigning junior European champion Sarah Schiller (GER/+XNUMX). Races two and three follow on Sunday from XNUMX a.m., followed by the team competition.

The World Championship races in Winterleiten will be broadcast live on the Rodel Austria YouTube channel on Sunday from 9 a.m.