With the fastest times in both runs the Italian double Patrik Pigneter and Florian Clara were the first gold medallists in the World Junior Championships in Garmisch Partenkirchen in Germany. “We took full risk in both runs and of course it was an advantage that Patrik could bring in all his World Cup experience”, said Florian Clara and gave his credits to his one year senior partner. Even though the skills required for single seaters vary from those for doubles Patrik Pigneter, the current leader in the Overall World Cup, managed very well to switch forth and back. “To adjust to new situations really quickly is one of Patrik´s best skills”, said Clara. Whether the gold medallists will be seen in the World Cup in future is to be seen: “In Olang we gave our World Cup debut and finished sixth. We both attend the sports school in Mals, so we would have opportunity to train together. We will see what we will do next season,” said Florian Clara. Also satisfied were runners up Andreas Leiter and Thomas Weiss, who completed the Italian success: “Our goal was a top five result. That we ended up with the silver medal is of course even nicer. We are fully satisfied.”

The gold medallists of 2004, the cousins Christian and Thomas Schopf, today had to settle for bronze, but had no regrets. “We wanted to win a medal, no matter which one. We are perfectly happy considering how little time we had for training together. We both have our World Cup careers, Thomas as a single seater and I with my brother as a double”, said Christian Schopf. Their main focus will be on their individual careers, even though Christian Schopf would be allowed in the juniors for two more years, his cousin Thomas, silver medallist in the (senior) European Championships, even for three more years.

Women and men both did their first runs today in which Melanie Batkowski (AUT) leads ahead of a field of three Italians, respectively Patrik Pigneter demonstrated with the fastest time that for the time being he is the one to beat. The competition will be continued tomorrow, Sunday, at 9.30am with the second and third runs.

Final Results Doubles:
1. Patrik PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA), 1:17,33(1), 1:17,92(1), 2:35,25
2. Andreas LEITER/Thomas WEISS (ITA), 1:17,82(2), 1:18,78(2), 2:36,60
3. Christian SCHOPF/Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:17,93(3), 1:19,00(3), 2:36,93
4. Mario SCHERNTHANER/Sigi TRUPPE (AUT), 1:19,17(4), 1:19,75(4), 2:38,92
5. Adam JEDRZEJKO/Piotr KOBZA (POL), 1:20,47(5), 1:20,62(5), 2:41,09
6. Rupert BRÜGGLER/Anja BRÜGGLER (AUT), 1:21,28(6), 1:22,35(7), 2:43,63
7. Konstantin LARIONOV/Evgeni ISATSCHENKO (RUS), 1:23,10(9), 1:21,84(6), 2:44,84
8. Stawomir JEDRZEJKO/Mateuz KOBIELUS (POL), 1:22,72(8), 1:22,59(8), 2:45,31

Ranking after one out of three runs:

Women:
1. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT), 1:14,37(1),
2. Tamara SCHWARZ (ITA), 1:14,92(2),
3. Imelda GRUBER (ITA), 1:1:15,36(3),
4. Marisa CLARA (ITA), 1:15,78(4),
5. Oksana ELESINA (RUS), 1:15,87(5),
6. Melanie SCHWARZ (ITA), 1:16,02(6),
7. Tina UNTERBERGER (AUT), 1:16,61(7),
8. Kinga GAWLAS (POL), 1:16,99(8),

Men:
1. Patrik PIGNETER (ITA), 1:14,65(1)
2. Hannes CLARA (ITA), 1:14,72(2),
3. Thomas SCHOPF (AUT), 1:15,02(3),
4. Christian SCHWARZ (ITA), 1:15,40(4),
5. Sigi TRUPPE (AUT), 1.15,47(5),
6. Philipp ANTHOLZER (ITA), 1:15,76(6),
7. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT), 1:15,78(7),
8. Robert STADLER (AUT), 1:15,91(8),