On Epiphany Day, the second Junior Luge World Cup on natural track took place in Latzfons/Lazfons (ITA). On the 2019 World Cup track, the victories went to Italy and Austria.
The young athletes had an intensive program on the 908-meter-long “Lahnwiesen”-track: Because it was raining on Wednesday, the compulsory training run was postponed to Thursday morning. Subsequently, the competitions in the categories men’s single, women‘s single and doubles were held in a single race and not, as is usual, in two.

In the men's category, Daniel Gruber (ITA) underlined that actually he is as fit as a fiddle. After winning the kick off on Winterleiten (AUT), the 19-year-old also won the competition in Latzfons in a superior manner. With a time of 1:03.09 minutes he distanced his team mate Alex Oberhofer (ITA) by 0.42 seconds, who has his first podium in the books. Miguel Brugger (AUT) completed the podium in third, 0.94 seconds behind Gruber. In the overall standings Gruber leads with a maximum of 200 points ahead of his two teammates Fabian Brunner and Oberhofer in second place with 140 points each.

Second victory of the season for Daniel Gruber (ITA)

In the women’s category, Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) took her first win of the season. The Tyrolean relegated in 1:05.24 minutes the Italian Ivonne Müller (+1.24 seconds) and her teammate Michelle Schnepfleitner (AUT/+1.88) to the places of honor. For both of them it is the first podium in the Junior World Cup. Opening winner Sarah Schiller (GER) sustained an ankle injury during training in Lungiarü (ITA) and will probably have to take a break of two weeks. As a result, Ruetz also took the lead in the overall World Cup with 185 points, ahead of the two Italians Müller (140) and Jenny Castiglioni (130), who shares third place with Schnepfleitner (AUT).

First victory of the season for Riccarda Ruetz (AUT)

The hosts celebrated a double victory in the doubles: Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) took their second win of the season in 1:09.3 minutes, ahead of Alex Oberhofer/Andreas Hofer (ITA / + 0.94 sec.), for Oberhofer/Hofer it was the first competition this season. After finishing second at opening in Winterleiten, the Slovaks Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (+1.69 seconds) finished third in Latzfons. Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner lead the overall ranking with 200 points, ahead of the Slovaks Neupauer/Neupauer with 155 points. Gabriel Halcin / Samuel Halcin (SVK) and Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) follow in third place with 120 points each.

On January 22nd and 23rd the Junior Luge World Cup continues with the 3rd race of the season in Navis (AUT).