Fabian Brunner (center of the picture) prevailed against the veterans. © FIL

2 premiere victories for South Tyrol's natural track tobogganists

There are two new winners in the FIL World Cup in natural track tobogganing. At the World Cup on Saturday at Winterleiten, Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA) in the men's doubles and Fabian Brunner (ITA) entered the list of World Cup winners for the first time in the men's singles.

17. February 2024

From: pm/dl

The newly crowned junior world champions in the doubles, Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer, are currently on a roll. A week after the gold medal, the Azzurri celebrated their first World Cup victory on the 940 meter long natural toboggan run in 1.07,09:0,27 minutes, ahead of Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA/+0,63 seconds) and Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK/+XNUMX, XNUMX). “It's indescribable, we just feel comfortable on this track. A week ago we became junior world champions here, now we have won a World Cup race, that sounds really cool,” beamed Paur in the winner’s interview.

In the overall standings, Lambacher/Lambacher lead with 555 points ahead of local heroes Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (485 points) and Paur/Hofer (410). If Lambacher/Lambacher reach the podium at the World Cup final on Sunday, their first overall victory can no longer be taken away from them.

Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer celebrated their first victory in the doubles.

In the women's single-seater, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) won the overall ranking with one race to go. With her sixth win of the season, Lanthaler is in the unassailable lead with 600 points, followed by Riccarda Ruetz (AUT/485 points) and Tina Unterberger (AUT/347). With the best time in both runs, Lanthaler celebrated her 2.08,04th World Cup victory in 50:1,09 minutes, ahead of Ruetz (+1,58 seconds) and Unterberger (+XNUMX). “My big goal for the season was to win the overall World Cup, and I achieved that. Now I want to finish off the winter well,” said Lanthaler, who was faster than all the men in this race.

1st World Cup victory for Brunner

On the other hand, Fabian Brunner (ITA), the 2022 Junior World Champion, celebrated his first World Cup victory, showed up in training on Friday and was on top of the World Cup podium for the first time after setting the best time in both runs in 2.08,22:0,56 minutes, ahead of Florian Clara (ITA/+0,76 .394 seconds) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA/+399). “I already had a good feeling in training. “We managed two very good runs and it was just great that it was enough for our first World Cup victory,” said Brunner, who has now climbed to third place in the overall ranking with 12 points, behind Florian Clara (XNUMX). Pigneter secured his XNUMXth overall victory in the single-seater ahead of schedule, ending a seven-year dry spell and can drive freely in the finale on Sunday.


Top 3 doubles, World Cup Winterleiten 2024
1.Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA), 1.07,09:XNUMX minutes
2.Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA), +0,27 seconds
3.Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK), +0,63

Top 3 single-seater women
1.Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), 2.08,04:XNUMX minutes
2.Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), +1,09 seconds
3.Tina Unterberger (AUT), +1,58

Top 3 single-seater men, World Cup Winterleiten 2024
1.Fabian Brunner (ITA), 2.08,22:XNUMX minutes
2.Florian Clara (ITA), +0,56 seconds
3. Patrick Pigneter (ITA), +0,76