Kick-off for the FIL Alpine Luge World Cup 2025/2026 on Saturday in Winterleiten (AUT). On the 940-metre track in the Styrian Zirbenland region, Austria and Italy were the nations celebrating.

Winner Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) with Nina Castiglioni (r.) and Jenny Castiglioni (l.)

Winterleiten (FIL/20 December 2025) Red-white-red celebrations at the first World Cup of the new season. In the doubles event, local favourites Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) underlined their ambitions: last season’s overall winners claimed their fifth World Cup victory with a run time of 1:06.08 minutes. “That’s a perfect start. There were a few small mistakes, but beginning the new season with a win again, just like last year, is simply great,” analysed Pichler. Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA, +0.31 seconds) and brothers Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (SVK, +1.06) completed the podium. For the Slovak junior world champions, it was their first World Cup podium finish.

(from left) Andreas Hofer/Tobias Paur (ITA), Nico Edlinger/Maximilian Pichler (AUT) and Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (SVK)

First World Cup victory for Riccarda Ruetz

Riccarda Ruetz celebrating her first World Cup victory

There was a first-time winner in the women’s singles. Vice world champion Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) enjoyed a perfect day: with the fastest time in both runs, the Tyrolean secured her first World Cup victory with a total time of 2:04.51 minutes. “I’m over the moon, because after training on Friday I didn’t have the best feeling. But today I produced two strong runs – I’m speechless,” said the 21-year-old after Austria’s first women’s singles World Cup win since Tina Unterberger in 2016 in Kühtai (AUT). The sisters Nina and Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) completed the podium, with Nina Castiglioni’s second place on her World Cup debut particularly noteworthy. When the two sisters stood on the podium together for the first time, both were close to tears. “My goal was simply to qualify for the second run – standing on the podium now is just wonderful,” said the 16-year-old from ASV Latsch.

Italian clean sweep

The “Azzurri” celebrated a clean sweep at the World Cup opener. Daniel Gruber (ITA) launched a comeback in the second run and secured only his second World Cup victory with a time of 2:01.84 minutes, ahead of first-run leader Hannes Unterholzner (ITA, +0.04 seconds) and Mathias Troger (ITA, +0.34). “I hope I can put together two good runs tomorrow, Sunday, because my first run today wasn’t entirely mistake-free. Still, I’m absolutely delighted to be on the podium here with my team-mates,” said Gruber. “I’m not annoyed about those four hundredths – I’m extremely happy with second place,” beamed Unterholzner, who was competing in the second run of a World Cup for the first time. Troger was also satisfied after going into the final as fifth: “The final curve in the second run was heavenly – I’ve never managed to hold the line so well.”

(from left) Hannes Unterholzner (ITA), Daniel Gruber (ITA) and Mathias Troger (ITA)

The second Alpine Luge World Cup will take place in Winterleiten on Sunday. 

Sunday, 21 December 2025*
09:00 – Doubles competition run, followed by flower ceremony
09:30 – 1st competition run, women’s singles
10:00 – 1st competition run, men’s singles
11:00 – Final run, women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
11:45 – Final run, men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
followed by: prize-giving ceremony for women’s singles, men’s singles and doubles

*Programme subject to change