City-event on Natural Track at Moscow

FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track returns to Moscow after a break of twelve years. From 22nd - 25th January the Russian Capital hosts the fourth race of the season. The rebuilt Vorobyevy Gory track is 520 metres long and located not far away from 1980's Olympic Stadium. It is the fifth time, that a race is held at Moscow. Premiere was at the 1993/94 season and from 2002 until 2004 the race scheduled regularly.

Ekaterina Lavrentyeva carries the hopes of the Russian fans. Last year's Overall World Cup winner has won the Moscow race three times so far (2002, 2003, 2004). The 34-year-old athlete from Kandalaksha is not satisfied with her current performance. She only finished third position at Latsch and Vatra Dornei. Evelin Lanthaler is the favourite at the women's event. She is leading the Overall World Cup at the moment, 45 points ahead of Austrian Tina Unterberger.

Also the russian doubles are without a World Cup victory this year. They have two expierienced doubles with Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev and Aleksandr Egorov/Petr Popov. The two teams scored 18 World Cup victories so far. Unbeaten at this season's doubles events are Italian Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara. Is their series ending at Moscow?

Pigneter is also unbeaten at the men's singles. He was challenged by his opponents, but still successful. Alex Gruber (ITA) and Thomas Kammerlander are in the hunt. Also the Russian athletes raced fast in Vatra Dornei. If one of them can score a victory, he would write history. So far no Russian athlete won a World Cup race on natural track.

Doubles race is scheduled on Saturday. Men's and women's competition will be held on Sunday. On Monday there will be the premiere of the Pursuit Race. The best 24 male and 16 female athletes are competing against each other in knockout rounds. Only the winners and the fastest loosers will advance to the next round. The fastest six athletes of the day will be racing in the big final. There are no World Cup points rewared at the Pursuit Race at Moscow.

SCHEDULE: (all informations GMT+3 = local time Moscow)

Friday, 22.01.2016
from 10:00 training runs men, women, doubles

Saturday, 23.01.2016
from 11:00 qualification runs men, women, doubles
from 14:00 competition run doubles
                   followed by flower ceremony
from 15:00 opening ceremony

Sunday, 24.01.2016
from 11:00 competition run men, women
                   followed by flower ceremony
from 15:00 victory ceremony

Monday, 25.01.2016
from 10:00 pursuit race
from 15:00 victory ceremony