Anka Jänicke, Mandziy, Falkensteiner/Huber, and Orlamünder/Gubitz were the fastest at the 5th FIL Nations Cup in Winterberg
Winterberg (FIL/09 Jan 2026) The 5th FIL Nations Cup of the 2025/2026 Olympic season took place on Friday, January 9, 2026, in heavy snowfall and temperatures around freezing at the VELTINS EisArena Winterberg. Anka Jänicke, Andriy Mandziy, Falkensteiner/Huber, and Orlamünder/Gubitz were the fastest.
Anka Jänicke wins for the first time
In the women's Nations Cup at the VELTINS EisArena Winterberg, Anka Jänicke prevailed with the best time of 58.096 seconds. The German claimed her first victory in the Nations Cup, finishing 26 hundredths of a second ahead of Alexandra Oberstolz from Italy, who took second place with a time of 58.357 seconds. Third place went to Canada's Embyr-Lee Susko in 58.386 seconds (+0.289). Her teammate Caitlin Nash finished fourth in 58.662 seconds, three hundredths of a second ahead of Melina Fischer from Germany, who had to settle for fifth place after a botched start.
Andriy Mandziy wins convincingly
In the men's singles, Andriy Mandziy took first place with a lead of 14 hundredths of a second. The Ukrainian won in 53.289 seconds. Slovakia's Jozef Ninis finished second in 53.429 seconds, followed by Matthew Greiner from the USA in third place (53.508). The winner of the 4th Nations Cup in Sigulda, Kaspars Rinks from Latvia, raced to fourth place with a time of 53.566 seconds, while Italy's Alex Gufler completed the top five with a time of 53.619 seconds.
"That was a solid run in the Nations Cup, even if it was a second slower than in training the day before. The track is very different to race on in heavy snowfall. It's not easy to adjust to the changed conditions. But I managed that well today. I really enjoy racing in the Nations Cup, every race counts for us and a victory means a lot to me," said Andriy Mandziy.
Falkensteiner/Huber with first Nations Cup victory
In the women's doubles, Nadja Falkensteiner and Annalena Huber celebrated their first victory in the Nations Cup. The young Italians prevailed with a time of 45.441 seconds. Just 0.023 seconds behind them, the Romanians Raluca Stramaturaru/Carmen Manolescu took second place. Third place went to the Austrians Lina Riedl and Anna Lerch (+0.164), who won the first Nations Cup in Winterberg in December 2025 and finished fourth in the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup at that time. The Chinese pair Gulijienaiti/Zhao (+0.502) followed in fourth place, while the Slovakian pair Viktoria Praxova/Desana Spitzova took fifth place, 0.733 seconds behind. “We often have difficulties, so a victory like this feels really good,” said Nadja Falkensteiner, who was not 100% satisfied with the run. Her bottom woman Annalena Huber added: “It's really different to race with the snow,” and with a smile she added: “But I can't see much at the back of the sled anyway, so it doesn't bother me that much.”
World champions Orlamünder/Gubitz impress in the Nations Cup doubles
Wojciech Chmielewski and Michal Gancarczyk are sledding together for the first time this season. The two Poles won the first Nations Cup in Winterberg at the beginning of December 2025. In the fifth race of the season, they were only beaten by the 2025 doubles world champions Hannes Orlamünder and Paul Gubitz. The two Thuringians were successful with a winning time of 44.082 seconds. Chmielewski/Gancarczyk were 0.281 seconds behind. "When Hannes and Paul compete in the Nations Cup, it's difficult for us. But we're happy with second place today. On Sunday, it's the World Cup that counts, and we want to impress. Maybe we'll get our revenge against Orlamünder/Gubitz," said Wojciech Chmielewski. Third place went to the young Italians Philipp Brunner and Manuel Weissensteiner (+0.437) ahead of Jäger/Steudte from Germany (+0.441) and the Slovaks Bosman/Mick (+0.526).
Schedule 5th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup, Winterberg (GER)
Local start time (=CET/MEZ)
Saturday, January 10, 2026
11:50 a.m. Women's singles, 1st run
1:10 p.m. Women's singles, 2nd run
2:25 p.m. Men's singles, 1st run
3:50 p.m. Men's singles, 2nd run
Sunday, January 11, 2026
9:00 a.m. Women's doubles, 1st run
9:50 a.m. Women's doubles, 2nd run
11:00 a.m. Men's doubles, 1st run
12:15 p.m. Men's doubles, 2nd run
1:50 p.m. Team relay
All information is subject to change!
Further information, TV times, and results can be found here:
