
Evelin Lanthaler is well on her way to her eighth overall World Cup victory. © Photo Hermann Sobe / Sobe Hermann
The Natural Track Luge World Cup is entering the home stretch
Grand finale at the FIL World Cup in natural track tobogganing 2023/2024. From the 16th to the 18th A double World Cup is scheduled for February at Winterleiten (AUT), with the overall rankings being decided in all three categories at the same time.
15. February 2024
From: pm/mv
Four World Cups and one Eliminator have been held so far this season. The battle for the overall World Cup comes to a head in the last two races. In the men's single-seater, Patrick Pigneter (ITA) is heading for his twelfth overall victory. With four wins this season so far, the 36-year-old leads the overall standings with 485 points ahead of Michael Scheikl (AUT/321) and Daniel Gruber (ITA/320). A tenth place (36 points) on Saturday is enough for Pigneter to win the overall World Cup early, since in the event of a tie on points, the number of wins this season will decide.
In the women's single-seater, there is an exciting race for third place in the overall ranking between Tina Unterberger (AUT/277), Jenny Castiglioni (ITA/256), Lisa Walch (GER/230) and Nadine Staffler (ITA/224). Junior world champion Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) secured her second place in the overall ranking with 400 points, as did series winner Evelin Lanthaler (ITA/500). For Lanthaler it would be the seventh overall victory in a row, the eighth overall. The 26-year-old has been unbeaten in 32 World Cup races. If she also wins the two races on the weekend, she would celebrate her 50th World Cup victory on Sunday. All-time record holder Ekaterina Lavrenteva (RUS) holds 55 wins.
These crystal balls are what the Natural Track Luge World Cup is all about.
In the doubles, there will be a showdown in the final between Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA/470) and Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT/425). The tipping point could be Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA), who just a few days ago secured the gold medal at the Junior World Championships on Winterleiten. If Paur/Hofer move ahead of Lambacher/Lambacher with two wins from Pichler/Edlinger, then the overall victory goes to Styria. On the other hand, a win in the last two races would be enough for Lambacher/Lambacher to win the big crystal ball.
Natural track toboggan world cup on the Winterleiten, the program
Friday February 16th9 a.m.: Nations training for single-seaters women and men
10.30 a.m.: Nations training for single-seaters women and men
12.30 p.m.: Nations training doubles
Saturday, February 17
9 a.m.: Doubles race, followed by a flower ceremony
9.30 a.m.: 1st single-seater women's race
10 a.m.: 1st single-seater men's race
11 a.m.: Women's single-seater final run, followed by a flower ceremony
11.45 a.m.: Final run for single-seater men, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony for double-seater, single-seater women and single-seater men
Sunday February 18th
9 a.m.: Doubles race, followed by a flower ceremony
9.30 a.m.: 1st single-seater women's race
10 a.m.: 1st single-seater men's race
11 a.m.: Women's single-seater final run, followed by a flower ceremony
11.45 a.m.: Final run for single-seater men, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony for double-seater, single-seater women and single-seater men
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