Austrian Thomas Kammerlander is new European Champion

Passeier (PMA) - Austrian Thomas Kammerlander celebrates his first title at European Championships. He wins the men's competition at the 21st FIL Luge European Championships on Natural Track held at Passeier in Italy. Patrick Pigneter finishes second. The 28-year-old Italian claims his second medal after winning gold at the doubles competition. Austrian Christian Schopf completes the podium. He wins bronze after finishing second at the doubles.

Kammerlander was the fastest on the "Bergkristall"-track from the first training run. After two competition runs he is the new European Champion. The Austrian set the fastest times at the two competition runs. After the first he was leading by 17 hundredths. At the second run he was behind Pigneter at the last intermediate. Kammerlander pushed hard in the last sector and at the finish line he was in front and took the victory.

Patrick Pigneter finished second, after dominating the last years on natural track. He was title holder. Third place went surprisingly to doubles-specialist Christian Schopf. Alex Gruber from Italy went from third to fourth position at the final run. Fifth and sixth place went to Austria and Florian Glatzl and Bernd Neurauter.

MEN'S RESULTS (after two competition runs):
GOLD: Thomas KAMMERLANDER (AUT) 1:51.74
SILVER: Patrick PIGNETER (ITA) 1:52.11
BRONZE: Christian SCHOPF (AUT) 1:53.35
4. Alex GRUBER (ITA) 1:53.46
5. Florian GLATZL (AUT) 1:53.89
6. Bernd NEURAUTER (AUT) 1:53.95