World Cup opener on the 1976 Olympic track in Innsbruck-Igls

Innsbruck (FIL) The EBERSPÄCHER World Cup 2020/21 starts on Friday, November 27, 2020 with the Nations Cup as a qualification race for the World Cup competitions on Saturday and Sunday in Innsbruck-Igls. Last winter, four different nations entered the winning lists in four competitions on the Olympic track of 1976. Tatyana Ivanova (RUS) in the women's event, the duo Toni Eggert / Sascha Benecken (GER), Jonas Müller (AUT) and the Team Relay of Italy won the opening races of the World Cup series. 

Athletes from 20 nations have registered for the opening race in Innsbruck-Igls. 42 men, 37 women and 22 doubles will be at the start. Due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the luge athletes from the USA and Canada will not enter the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup 2020/21 until January 2021.

Quotes before the start of the season 2020/21

Russia: At the beginning of the FIL international competitive season, the Russian national luge team had the Russian Cup in Sochi, which became a qualification for the participation in the 2020/2021 international season. And then the athletes continued their training in Europe at the most important tracks of the upcoming season.
Sergey Chudinov, Head coach Russian National luge team: “The Russian luge athletes are in good shape before the start of the World Cup. In general, the coaching staff is satisfied with the way of preparation for the season, in spite of the difficulties that COVID-19 brings to our daily life and work. We would like to say that this situation has not touched us, but, unfortunately, we cannot. I was hospitalized with the pneumonia at the beginning of October, although the doctors did not diagnose the COVID-19. I know from my own experience how serious it is. We strictly follow all the requirements of prevention and epidemiological safety. I hope it will help to be healthy, to compete in full force and the upcoming season will be successful and fruitful.”

Austria: René Friedl, Austria’s Head coach and sports director: "After an unusual season preparation under very special conditions, we are now looking forward to the first World Cup and an extraordinary season. The team is ready for the first international comparison. We have divided into three small groups, each with separate cars and table arrangements for meals. We avoid contacts and do daily health checks and ongoing covid tests. Nevertheless, two athletes have been caught in the preparation. This is of course bitter. Both were immediately isolated. Fortunately, nobody else was caught and now they all have negative PCR tests again".
Madeleine Egle, 2018 Olympic bronze medallist with the Team Relay: “I am very happy that I was able to defend my title as Austrian State Champion on November 22 and that luge is currently going so well. I am slowly getting back after my shoulder injury, it is getting better and better. I hope that I will be able to improve a lot more at the World Cup”.

Germany: Norbert Loch, Head coach Germany: “In the preparation for the season we already had Covid cases, also in the coaching team. Therefore we are very sensitive now and we work with two separate World Cup teams with their own coaches. Of course, we have a larger number of vehicles, lots of single rooms in the hotels and my co-coach Torsten Görlitzer and I stay as far away from the two teams as possible. But we have such a great sport and can place ourselves in the media at the top. The most important thing for us now is to race and be present and show what we can do”.

Schedule 1st EBERSPÄCHER World Cup, Innsbruck (AUT)

Freitag / Friday, November 27th, 2020
09:00 Nationencup / Nations Cup
anschl. Siegerehrung / Award Ceremony
14:30 Training Gesetztengruppe / Training seeding-group

Samstag / Saturday, November 28th, 2020
09:00 1. Rennlauf Herren / 1st run Men's singles
10:35 2. Rennlauf Herren / 2nd run Men's singles
12:40 1. Rennlauf Doppel / 1st run Doubles
14:00 2. Rennlauf Doppel / 2nd run Doubles

Sonntag / Sunday, November 29th, 2020
09:00 1. Rennlauf Damen / 1st run Women's singles
10:25 2. Rennlauf Damen / 2nd run Women's singles
12:40 Team-Staffel / Team relay
14:00 Sprint Herren / Sprint men
14:45 Sprint Doppel / Sprint doubles
15:20 Sprint Damen / Sprint women

Subject to change. Local times in CET.

Infos & Links:

Additorial information for the World Cup opener in Innsbruck you can find here:  https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-word-cup