The FIL Alpine Luge World Cup 2025/2026 is writing special stories. On Sunday, the second race day took place on the Winterleiten track (AUT). Alongside the happy winners Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) and Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) and Alex Oberhofer (ITA) celebrated with the same time their first-ever World Cup victory. In addition, Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) surprised everyone in the doubles event with a strategy never seen before.
The two winners: (from left) Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) and Alex Oberhofer (ITA)
Winterleiten (FIL/21 December 2025) Sunday’s racing could hardly have been more thrilling: after the first run, Fabian Achenrainer held a narrow lead over Alex Oberhofer, who then clearly moved into first place with the fastest time in the second run. Achenrainer was unable to match Oberhofer, particularly in the upper section of the track, but thanks to the fastest time in the third sector, the number one also lit up at the finish for Achenrainer – identical to Oberhofer’s time. With a total time of 2:01.50 minutes, Achenrainer and Oberhofer secured their first World Cup victory in the senior class, ahead of Saturday’s winner Daniel Gruber (ITA, +0.53 seconds). “The first run was very good, but in the second run I made a few small mistakes at the top. Sharing the win with Alex is really cool,” said the 25-year-old Achenrainer. “Yesterday nothing worked for me at all. My big role model Patrick Pigneter called me and told me to finally show what I can do. I did that today, especially in the second run,” said 20-year-old Oberhofer, who had even shared a surprise chocolate egg with Achenrainer at the start before the final run.
In the overall World Cup standings, Gruber (170 points) leads after two races, followed by Achenrainer (160) and Oberhofer (155).
Ruetz Dominant
Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) followed up her first World Cup victory on Saturday with another win on Sunday. The breakthrough victory appears to have given the Tyrolean a boost: with a total time of 2:04.40 minutes, the vice world champion raced confidently to her second World Cup win. “It was really great fun to race today, the track was in perfect condition and the equipment was extremely fast. After being ill several times recently, I hope to be in top physical shape again by the next race,” said the 21-year-old. Once again, Nina Castiglioni (ITA, +0.44 seconds) finished second, ahead of her team-mate Daniela Mittermair (ITA, +1.27). As on Saturday, Lisa Walch (GER, +1.30) finished fourth.
Back-to-back-win in Winterleiten: Riccarda Ruetz (AUT)
In the overall World Cup, Ruetz leads with 200 points, ahead of Nina Castiglioni (170) and Jenny Castiglioni (ITA, 125).
Pichler/Edlinger Unbeaten on the Winterleiten – Just Like Last Year
Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger have now been unbeaten for four races on the 940-metre-long natural luge track in the Styrian Zirbenland. After winning the World Cup opener on Saturday, the reigning European champions followed up on Sunday, celebrating their sixth World Cup victory overall in a time of 1:05.44 minutes. As last year, Pichler/Edlinger once again won the first two races of the winter season. “Starting the new season with two wins is important – the equipment is working perfectly and our form is good,” explained Pichler in the winners’ interview. “The next race is in the Passeier Valley. We’ve never raced this track in doubles before, but we’ll give it our best,” added Edlinger.
Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) took two victories in Winterleiten
Position Swap Proves a Masterstroke for Lambacher/Lambacher
In doubles luge, the general rule is that the taller/heavier athlete sits in the front. Brothers Matthias and Peter Lambacher are roughly the same height and weight, so after a disappointing fourth place on Saturday, the reigning world champions decided to try an unusual experiment: Peter moved into the front position, while Matthias took over at the back.
With a time of 1:06.30 minutes (including the fastest time in the middle sector), Peter Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher finished second and secured a place on the podium, ahead of their team-mates Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA, 1:06.65 minutes). “Saturday was a disappointment, so we spontaneously decided on this position swap. We had tried it several times in training three years ago, and now we wanted to see how it workes in a race,” Peter Lambacher said after grabbing his first podium finish as the front rider. “Peter did a great job – even though he took the ‘singles line’ through the middle section – and in some corners I almost brushed the barrier with my knee,” Matthias Lambacher laughed.
The International Luge Regulations (IRO) only regulate a change of personnel – if a doubles team were to start with a new athlete, it would be counted as a new pairing. A swap of positions, as carried out by Lambacher/Lambacher, has no effect on the classification.
In the overall standings, Pichler/Edlinger lead with 200 points, ahead of Paur/Hofer (155), Lambacher/Lambacher (145) and the Slovaks Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (130).
For the Austrian Luge Federation (ÖRV), this result is historic: the last time Austria secured victories in all three categories at a World Cup event was in Umhausen (AUT) in January 2001, when Sandra Mariner (women’s singles), Gerhard Pilz (men’s singles) and Reinhard Beer/Herbert Kögl (doubles) all won.
The FIL Alpine Luge World Cup continues on 3–4 January 2026 in the Passeier Valley / Val Passiria (ITA).
Top 3 – Men’s Singles (21 December 2025)
1. Fabian Achenrainer (AUT), 2:01.50 minutes
2. Alex Oberhofer (ITA), ex aequo
3. Daniel Gruber (ITA), +0.53 seconds
Top 3 – Women’s Singles
1. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), 2:04.40 minutes
2. Nina Castiglioni (ITA), +0.44 seconds
3. Daniela Mittermair (ITA), +1.27 seconds
Top 3 – Doubles
1. Maximilian Pichler / Nico Edlinger (AUT), 1:05.44 minutes
2. Peter Lambacher / Matthias Lambacher (ITA), +0.86
3. Tobias Paur / Andreas Hofer (ITA), +1.21
Overall World Cup Standings (2 of 7 races)
Women’s Singles
1. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) – 200 points
2. Nina Castiglioni (ITA) – 170
3. Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) – 125
Men’s Singles
1. Daniel Gruber (ITA) – 170 points
2. Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) – 160
3. Alex Oberhofer (AUT) – 155
Doubles
1. Maximilian Pichler / Nico Edlinger (AUT) – 200
2. Tobias Paur / Andreas Hofer (ITA) – 155
3. Matthias Lambacher / Peter Lambacher (ITA) – 145
