The 2023/2024 season in the FIL Luge World Cup on natural track began with the double-seater race on Saturday afternoon in Kühtai (AUT). At the first World Cup on the new Kühtai-track, the brothers Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) celebrated their first victory in their first race.

First race - first victory for Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA)

Kühtai (FIL/December 16th, 2023) With a fairytale winter weather, the FIL World Cup in natural track luge 2023/2024 opened on the 730 meter long Kühtai-track. Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher celebrated their first World Cup victory with a time of 1.58,90 minutes and the best time in both runs. The genesis of this two-seater pairing arose out of necessity. Patrick Lambacher, who became World Champion and overall World Cup winner with his brother Matthias last season, is taking a break from competition. Matthias moved one position forward on the luge and the youngest brother Peter stepped in behind in the vacated place.

„The situation was completely new, to win the first race on a new track is something special. Of course we have to improve a little bit more and work hard“, says Matthias Lambacher.

Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) grabed second place; the local heroes took their first podium in the World Cup, just 0.53 seconds behind. The Slovakians Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer finished third (+6.58 seconds), for Neupaur/Neupaur it was the second podium after Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA) in January.

Podium doubles (from left): Nico Edlinger/Maximilian Pichler (AUT), Peter Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) and Dominik Neupauer/Peter Neupauer (SVK)

In the morning practice, Michael Scheikl (AUT) was unbeatable in the men's singles, while Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) set the fastest time in both runs in the women's singles.

The World Cup in natural track luge will continue on Sunday with the single-seater races; the women's (from 10 a.m.) and men's (from 10.45 a.m.) races will be broadcast live on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL.

World Cup Kühtai, doubles results, December 16th, 2023
1. Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA), 1.58,90 minutes
2. Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT), +0.53 seconds
3. Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK), +6.58 
4. Tomas Hasek/David Rydl (CZE), +10.74
5. Gabriel Halcin/Marian Budzak (SVK), +26.16