Natural track tobogganists start the season: these are the favorites

The first World Cup races are on the program from Thursday in Winterleiten, Styria, Austria. Even in this special coronavirus season, South Tyrol's natural track toboggans want to attack. And this season too, the chances of South Tyrolean victories and podium places are more than good. The big analysis at the start of the season.

by Michael Andres Women The Passirian Evelin Lanthaler has dominated in recent years like Patrick Pigneter and Yekaterina Lavrentjewa in their best times. And the 29-year-old from Platt in Passeier is far from tired: she wants to continue her impressive record this season. In the past 3 seasons she has won 17 of 20 World Cup races and confidently celebrated victory in the overall World Cup three times in a row. In total, she has already won the crystal ball 3 times, having previously achieved this in the 4/2015 season, when Lanthaler ensured the changing of the guard, so to speak, for the Russian Lavrentyeva, who had previously dominated for years.

In the 2018/2019 season, Lanthaler even won all of the season's races; last season she was only defeated once by Greta Pinggera from Lasa. It was also Pinggera who won the crystal ball in 2016/2017 with a victory in the last race, narrowly ahead of Lanthaler (as a reminder: both finished the season with the same number of points and had the same number of victories as well as 2nd and 3rd places, which was the last race was the deciding factor).

But there isn't much to suggest such a close season at the moment. Lanthaler is too strong. But: If everything goes right, Pinggera can beat her teammate on good days this season.

The Austrians Tina Unterberger and Michelle Diepold are always good for a surprise. We can also be excited again about the former series winner Yekaterina Lavrentjewa, who returned three years ago after her baby break and finished fifth in the overall ranking last year. However, due to the corona pandemic, no athletes from Russia will be taking part in the first World Cup races this year. In the end, neither the 3-year-old Lavrentjewa nor the two Austrians will be able to have a say in the fight for overall victory.

<a data-caption="Ein solches Podest wie vorige Saison in Laas könnte es auch heuer geben (v.l.) Tina Unterberger, Siegerin Evelin Lanthaler und Greta Pingger. © Sobe Hermann" data-fancybox="inline-71294" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2020/12/ein-solches-podest-wie-vorige-saison-in-laas-koennte-es-auch-heuer-geben-vl-tina-unterberger-siegerin-evelin-lanthaler-und-greta-pingger.jpg"> There could also be a podium like last season in Laas this year (from left) Tina Unterberger, winner Evelin Lanthaler and Greta Pingger. © Sobe Hermann

The other South Tyroleans in the senior national team, Nadine Staffler (born in 2000/Laas) and Daniela Mittermair (born in 1999/Deutschnofen), primarily want to get closer to the top places and compete for podium places. The 17-year-old Lea Stangl from Ultimo will gain her first World Cup experience this season.

Sara Bachmann from Latscher, who has been competing for Germany since the 2017/2018 season, recently took 7th place in the overall World Cup and would like to have a say in the podium places in the World Cup races. And finally ... Among the women, Evelin Lanthaler and Greta Pinggera are also the big favorites this season. No other sledders are likely to come close to the two South Tyroleans. The SportNews tip: Lanthaler once again wins the team-internal duel and is once again crowned overall winner. Men While Evelin Lanthaler recently dominated the women's competition, the men's competition was and is closer than ever before. The best natural track luger of all time, Patrick Pigneter, had to give up his dominance a few years ago. After years of dominance and 11 overall individual World Cup victories in a row, the successful Völser took second place behind North Tyrolean Thomas Kammerlander in the 2016/2017 season. This season, Villandro's Alex Gruber was also crowned world champion - he won the title in 2 Defend Latzfons.

Kammerlander has had the upper hand in the overall World Cup for the past four years. No wonder he is the favorite this time too. But: The 4-year-old North Tyrolean is focusing entirely on his home World Championships in Umhausen at the beginning of February this season. This could be an advantage for Pigneter and Gruber in the fight for the crystal ball. The two South Tyroleans are among the favorites alongside “Kammi” and the Austrian Michael Scheikl, who took second place in the overall World Cup last season.

While the now 33-year-old Pigneter wants to get the crystal ball back, Gruber is aiming for his first overall World Cup victory. The 27-year-old from Villanders definitely wants to achieve this goal.

3 favorites (from left): Patrick Pigneter, Thomas Kammerlander and Alex Gruber. © Sobe Hermann

The other South Tyroleans are likely to have a difficult time in the men's singles. Florian Clara, who ranked 8th in the overall singles World Cup last season, is concentrating primarily on the doubles, where he recently formed a virtually unbeatable duo with Pigneter. The 31-year-old Stefan Federer from Völs is always good for top 6 results, but last season he didn't get past 11th place in the overall rankings. Several young athletes, such as Fabian Brunner (born in 2003/Feldthurns), Florian Haselrieder (2000/Völs) and Daniel Gruber (2002/Schleis) primarily want to gain further experience this season.

The Lambacher brothers, Patrick and Matthias, focus primarily on the doubles competition (see below). Like the brothers from St. Magdalena in Villnöß, Mathias Troger (Tesens) also switched from sports luge to racing luge two years ago. The 2-year-old is expected to compete regularly in the World Cup this season. Last season he narrowly missed the team's internal qualification for the second race several times, but was able to win the Nations Cup in each of the last races. If Troger manages the competitive internal qualification, he is a candidate for the top 26. His best result so far is a 2th place two years ago in Winterleiten.

And finally ... In the men's category, there are 4 favorites for overall victory: Thomas Kammerlander, Patrick Pigneter, Alex Gruber and Michael Scheikl. Exciting and close races are likely. In this short “Corona season”, a lot will depend on your daily mood. The SportNews tip: Kammerlander once again prevails in the fight for the overall World Cup – although it will be a close affair.

+++ UPDATE: Shortly before leaving for Winterleiten, Thomas Kammerlander tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday ( SportNews reported here ). He has to miss the first two races, which means his chances of winning the overall World Cup are significantly diminished. + + + double seater In the two-seater category, Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara have been a South Tyrolean dream duo for years. 11 overall World Cup victories speak for themselves. Last year they once again confidently prevailed over the Russians Pavel Porshnev and Ivan Lazareev. The Russian duo secured the crystal ball in 2016/2017, and since then Pigneter/Clara have left nothing to be desired. Another South Tyrolean duo would like to follow in Pigneter/Clara's footsteps sooner or later. The toboggan brothers Patrick and Matthias Lambacher demonstrated their skills several times last season, won the European Championship title in Moscow and finished third in the overall ranking. All they are missing is a World Cup victory. The two of them only switched from sport tobogganing to natural track tobogganing two years ago. They had already won everything there was to win in sport tobogganing.

And finally ... This season too, victory in the doubles will only be over Pigneter/Clara. However, the well-rehearsed Lambacher brothers have a good chance of getting closer and closer to the top favorites. The SportNews tip: Pigneter/Clara clearly took the overall victory this time too. The program in Winterleiten Thursday, December 17.12.2020th, 1 (XNUMXst World Cup) 09.30 a.m.: 1st race for men 10.20 a.m.: 1st women's race 11.00 a.m.: Men's World Cup final 11.45 a.m.: Women's World Cup final 12.30 p.m.: 1st double race 13.30 p.m.: World Cup final doubles

Friday, December 18.12.2020th, 2 (XNUMXnd World Cup) 10.00 p.m.: 1st double race 10.30 a.m.: 1st women's race 11.00 p.m.: World Cup final doubles 11.45 a.m.: Women's World Cup final

Saturday, December 19.12.2020th, 2 (XNUMXnd World Cup) 10.00 a.m.: 1st race for men 11.15 a.m.: Men's World Cup final 12.45 p.m.: Team competition The rest of the program January 14th to 17th: World Cup in Passeier (3rd and 4th World Cup) February 10th to 13th: World Cup in Lasa (5th World Cup and World Cup final)

February 4th to 7th: World Championships in Umhausen

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Natural track tobogganists start the season: these are the favorites

Naturally, South Tyrol's tobogganers are among the favorites on natural tracks. s+ takes a look at the beginning of the World Cup season and the chances of local athletes. We also predict the overall World Cup winners.

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