After all also the Natural Track World Cup has been affected by the strange and way too warm winter in Europe. Both races in Hüttau (AUT) as well as Krynica (POL) had to be cancelled. The rare snow came too late and did not help the situation at all.
The new racing schedule has the 4th World Cup in Umhausen again and the 5th in Moos/Passeier (ITA), where the season final will be a double World Cup now from February 8th to 10th.

However, the women´s World Cup looks like it has its winner even before the luge family will return to Umhausen. Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) has scored 300 out of 300 possible points and her challengers Renate Gietl (ITA) and Melanie Batkowski (AUT) will need a small miracle to catch the Russian.

In the men´s event the dominating athlete Patrick Pigneter has only been beaten by himself as he crashed in his first run in Lungiaru and thus left the Italian village with mere 7 points. He scored the fastest time again in his second run, so it seems like his crash did not do any harm to his excellent form. Still, his team mate Martin Psenner has become stronger from race to race and might be a tough competitor in the remaining three races.

The doubles World Cup remains open and undecided once again. Like in the past years already there are just too many strong couples good to win any time to allow any predictions. With the two newcomers at top level, Hofer/Psenner and Pigneter/Clara (both ITA) the situation has become even more exciting.

The World Cup in Umhausen will start with the training runs on Friday and the competition runs on Saturday.

Track Info:

Length: 1000m
Elevation Start: 1160m
Elevation Finish: 1040m
Difference: 120m
Average Descent: 12,1%

Programme for Umhausen II:

Friday, 2 February:
5pm: 1st Training Run Men and Women
7.30pm: 2nd Training Run Men and Women
afterwards Opening Ceremony

Saturday, 3 February:
9.30am: 1st Training Runs Doubles
10.30am: 2nd Training Run Doubles
12pm: 1st Competition Run Doubles
1.30pm: 2nd Competition Run Doubles
Flower Ceremony
5pm: 1st Competition Run Women/Men
7pm: 2nd Competition Run Women/Men
Flower Ceremony
8.30pm: Medal Ceremonies