The new year begins with a very special race in the Alpine Luge World Cup: on 3–4 January 2026, the third FIL Alpine Luge World Cup of the season will take place on the “Bergkristall” track in the Passeier Valley/Val Passiria (ITA). The venue last hosted a World Cup race five years ago, in January 2021.

Alpine Luge World Cup returns to Passeier

Passeier Valley/Val Passiria (FIL/01 January 2026) The 874-metre-long natural luge track “Bergkristall”, located in the municipality of Moos/Moso, presents the athletes with major challenges. While the upper section of the course, featuring the “Great Hairpin”, is technically demanding, the final section from the key point known as the “Labyrinth” is a high-speed stretch requiring lots of courage.

New Territory for Many Athletes

With its return to the World Cup calendar after a five-year break, many athletes will be competing on the “Bergkristall” in a World Cup race for the first time. This includes the winners of the season opener in Winterleiten (AUT), Daniel Gruber and Alex Oberhofer (both ITA), the women’s singles runner-up Nina Castiglioni (ITA), as well as the entire leading field in the doubles event.

In 2021, only Winterleiten winner Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Daniela Mittermair and Nadine Staffler (both ITA), Lisa Walch (GER) and Patricija Urbanc (CRO) competed in Passeier Valley in the women’s event. In the men’s event, participants included Winterleiten winner Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) and Jerome Almer (SUI), as well as the doubles team Tomas Hasek/David Rydel (CZE).

Slight Advantage from the Junior World Cup

However, Passeier Valley hosted the Junior World Cup exactly one year ago, on 4 January 2025, which could provide a slight advantage for the “young generation”. At that time, Tina Stuffer (ITA) celebrated her first Junior World Cup victory, ahead of Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) and Lotte Mulser (ITA), with Nina Castiglioni finishing fourth. In the men’s event, Alex Oberhofer won ahead of the Slovenian brothers Vid and Ziga Kralj.

Overall Standings after Two Races

In the current World Cup standings, Daniel Gruber leads with 170 points after two of seven races, followed by Fabian Achenrainer (160) and Alex Oberhofer (155). In the women’s overall World Cup, Riccarda Ruetz is in the lead with 200 points, ahead of Nina Castiglioni (170) and Jenny Castiglioni (125). In the doubles standings, Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) lead with 200 points, followed by Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA, 155), Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA, 145) and the Slovakian pair Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (130).

Programme
Saturday, 3 January 2026
09.30: 1st + 2nd national training – women’s singles/men’s singles
13.00: National training – doubles
14.00: Race run – doubles

Sunday, 4 January 2026
10.00: 1st race run – women’s singles/men’s singles
11.30: 2nd race run – women’s singles/men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony and prize-giving