Crazy race: Kammerlander cheers – Gruber is puzzled

After the first run everything looked like a safe victory for Alex Gruber from Villandro. The 29-year-old, who was crowned world champion for the first time in Vatra Dornei in 2017, was comfortably in the lead with a lead of 0,39 seconds over Thomas Kammerlander (AUT). A real thriller was taking place behind them: There was only 0,19 seconds between Kammerlander and Michael Scheikl (AUT) in fifth place.

In the decisive second run, Patrick Pigneter from Fiè conjured up a fabulous run and took the lead. His double partner Florian Clara from Badia, third after the first run, was 0,13 seconds slower than Pigneter, and Clara's long-awaited podium place was a long way off. Kammerlander showed all his class and was able to enjoy a mini lead of 0,05 seconds over Pigneter at the finish.

All eyes were now on the favorite Alex Gruber, but the South Tyrolean constantly lost time and finished in fourth place. Kammerlander, who himself no longer expected a victory, celebrated his second win of the season in the third race, making it the 23rd World Cup victory for the reigning world champion. Patrick Pigneter moved up from fourth place to second place and made it onto the podium for the first time this season, and third place for Florian Clara was only his second podium finish in a single-seater since Kühtai 2014.

Thomas Kammerlander tobogganed to victory. © Miriam Jennewein

“These narrow gaps are exhausting, but I'm very happy that I was able to score points here. So I have a small cushion for Deutschnofen, because Gruber and Pigneter are the favorites there,” explained a beaming Thomas Kammerlander after the race. “I have no idea why I was so slow in the second run. “You can’t squander such a big lead. I have to watch the journey in peace,” Gruber puzzled at the finish.

In the overall World Cup, Kammerlander leads after 3 of 7 races with 285 points, Alex Gruber follows with 245 points, third place is shared by Patrick Pigneter and Michael Scheikl with 185 points each, Florian Clara in fifth has 175 points.

On Sunday the races in the women's single-seater and the double-seater continue on the “Bukovina” track in Vatra Dornei.

Football

Italy

International leagues

International

Winter sports

Tennis

Other sports

Motorsport

Cycling

Watersports

Events

Favorites

Crazy race: Kammerlander cheers – Gruber is puzzled

Crazy race on the 1024 meter long “Bukovina” track in Vatra Dornei (ROU). The third station in the FIL World Cup in luge on natural track brought one single certainty in the men's single-seater on Saturday: Nothing is fixed.

Suggestions

Comments (0)