The third race of the 2023/2024 season was on the program at the FIL World Cup in natural track luge in Umhausen (AUT) on Saturday evening. In the men's singles, Patrick Pigneter (ITA) celebrated his 51st World Cup victory, and in the women's singles Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) took her 46th World Cup victory.

Patrick Pigneter (ITA): Ninth victory on the Grantau track

Umhausen (FIL/01/20/2024) On the demanding Grantau track in Ötztal, Patrick Pigneter showed a brilliant race to catch up: After the first run, Pigneter was in third place, 0.52 seconds behind, in the second run the 36-year-old went all in and celebrated his ninth victory on the Grantau track in 2:24.16 minutes. He is once again alone at the top of the all-time best list, ahead of local hero Thomas Kammerlander (8 wins), who has since retired. With a fantastic time of 1:11.60 minutes, Pigneter came close to his track record (1:11.48 minutes) from 2019 and pushed his teammate Florian Clara (ITA) into second place and Michael Scheikl (AUT) into third place.

Podium men (from left): Florian Clara (ITA), Patrick Pigneter (ITA) and Michael Scheikl (AUT)

In the overall ranking, Pigneter (285 points) extends his lead with his second win of the season, followed by Clara (215), Daniel Gruber (ITA/210) and Scheikl (201).

Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) celebrated her third win of the season in the third race in the women's singles. The World Champion set the best time in both runs and clearly won in 2:25.47 minutes ahead of local hero Riccarda Ruetz (AUT/+2.61 seconds) and Daniela Mittermair (ITA/+2.75). “In the first run I didn't do well in the upper part, so I said to myself, now you have to accelerate. I can’t believe that set a new women’s track record,” said Lanthaler, commenting on her 46th World Cup victory. For Ruetz and Mittermair, however, it is the second podium finish of the season.

Podium women (from left): Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) and Daniela Mittermair (ITA)

In the overall standings, Lanthaler leads with 300 points, ahead of Ruetz (230) and Mittermair (215).

Victory with announcement in the doubles Eliminator

First world cup victory for Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT)

Said and done! At the World Cup in Laas/Lasa (ITA) two weeks ago, Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) announced that they would be “at the top of the podium” in Umhausen. The young Styrians' plan was a complete success; in the Eliminator race on Saturday afternoon, they achieved the best time in the semi-finals. In the finals, Pichler/Edlinger didn't let their guard down and celebrated their first World Cup victory in 1:18.07 minutes, ahead of Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA/+0.87 seconds) and this season's series winners, Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA/+0.99). The victory of Pichler/Edlinger is the first triumph for an austrian doubles since Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer on January 16th, 2021 in Passeiertal/Val Passiria (ITA).

Podium doubles (from left): Andreas Hofer/Tobias Paur (ITA), Nico Edlinger/Maximilian Pichler (AUT) and Peter Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (AUT)

In the overall standings, after four of seven races, Lambacher/Lambacher are in the lead with 370 points, ahead of Pichler/Edlinger (340) and Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK/245).

On Sunday the Eliminator in the women's singles and men's singles is scheduled at 10 a.m.. The competition will be broadcast live on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL.

World Cup Umhausen, men’s singles (top 5)
1. Patrick Pigneter (ITA), 2:24.16 minutes
2. Florian Clara (ITA), +0.44 seconds
3. Michael Scheikl (AUT), +0.50
4. Daniel Gruber (ITA), +1.50
5. Fabian Brunner (ITA), +1.58

World Cup Umhausen, women’s singles (top 5)
1. Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), 2:25.47 minutes
2. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), +2.61
3. Daniela Mittermair (ITA), +2.75
4. Nadine Staffler (ITA), +3.08
5. Lisa Walch (GER), +3.23