Junior World Cup: Slovenians write sports history

The Slovenians Vertelj/Kralj opened the medal hunt with start number one on the 658 meter long “Tonnerboden track” in the Wipptal toboggan center. After a somewhat slow start, they drove the lower section confidently and stopped the time at 55,81 seconds. The Russians Aleksandr Bashko/Aleksandr Kalitov and Pavel Ivashkevisch/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev were immediately behind, 0,06 and 0,08 seconds behind respectively, while the gold favorites Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) were 0,23 seconds into fourth place.

In the final round, Vertelj/Kralj upped the ante, with a running time of 55,64 seconds, they literally pulverized the competition and secured the gold medal with a total time of 1.51,45:0,28 minutes. Silver went to the Russians Bashko/Kalitov (+0,69 seconds), bronze went to their teammates Ivashkevisch/Kudriavtsev (+XNUMX seconds).

Slovenia's Vertelj and Kralj won the gold medal

"It's incredible. We were only on the podium once in the Junior World Cup and now we have the gold medal,” said Vertelij, delighted about the greatest success of his young career so far. “The first run was good, the second run was even better. We were hardly nervous during the break,” Kralj analyzed after the historic success. For Slovenia it is the first gold medal in luge on natural track; so far the World Cup victory in 2003 in Valdaora by Borut Kralj, Vid's father, was the greatest sporting success.

However, there were long faces after fourth place at Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner. The dominators in the Junior World Cup (four wins in four races) had a pitch-black day. “We are at a loss for words, that was the worst performance of the entire winter. We had problems from the start. Congratulations to the Slovenians,” Unterholzner showed himself to be a fair sportsman. Hofer and Gruber in the lead after the first run Afterwards the first run in the women's single-seater was on the program. A local hero, Katharina Hofer (ITA), leads, the favorite Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) follows me in second place, 0,66 seconds behind. Behind them are Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) and Sarah Schiller (GER), only 0,02 seconds separate the two after the first run.

In the men's singles, the hosts dominated the first run. Gold favorite Daniel Gruber (ITA) is in the lead with a time of 51,85 seconds, Fabian Brunner (ITA) follows in second place, 0,29 seconds behind, and Alex Oberhofer (ITA/+2 seconds) is third .). On Sunday, the new junior single-seater world champions will be crowned in races two and three. The results: Top three doubles 05.02.2022/XNUMX/XNUMX 1.Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) 1.51,45:XNUMX minutes 2.Aleksandr Bashko/Aleksandr Kalitov (RUS) +0,28 sec. 3.Pavel Ivashkevisch/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev (RUS) +0,69 sec.

Top three single-seater women (intermediate standings after race one), February 05.02.2022th, XNUMX 1.Katherina Hofer (ITA) 53,04 sec. 2.Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) +0,66 sec. 3.Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) +1,09 sec.

Top three single-seater men (intermediate standings after race one), February 05.02.2022th, XNUMX 1.Daniel Gruber (ITA) 51,85 seconds. 2.Fabian Brunner (ITA) +0,29 sec. 3.Alex Oberhofer (ITA) +0,45 sec.

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Junior World Cup: Slovenians write sports history

The 13th FIL Junior World Championships in luge on natural track began with a big surprise on Saturday in Jaufental. In the doubles, Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) took the gold medal. It is Slovenia's first ever luge world championship title.

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