Doubles: Overall World Cup for Steu/Kindl and Vötter/Oberhofer

Sigulda (FIL/02. Mrz. 2024) What a success story for Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl? The Austrian duo only teamed up this season. And were presented with the big crystal globe at the season finale of the EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup in Sigulda. Third place in the final race was enough. They were too far ahead of their German rivals Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, who finished second behind local heroes Martins Bots and Roberts Plume. The final score in the overall World Cup was: Winner Steu/Kindl with 966 points ahead of Wendl/Arlt (885) and Bots/Plume (876).

However, it was not quite so easy to achieve this triumph in the end. In the first run, they lost the racing line between turns twelve and 14, but were able to correct this from curve 14. "That's what sets us apart, that we don't always have to drive cleanly," said bottom man Kindl, "but with our experience and technique, we can still master some difficult situations, for example saving poor exits from a bend." Top man Thomas Steu was certain that he would win the overall World Cup for the second time after 2020/21, back then with Lorenz Koller as his partner. "However, 'just getting down' always sounds so easy," admitted the 30-year-old, "but it's definitely not that easy here in Sigulda."

The two Latvians Martins Bots and Roberts Plume confidently and elegantly set the best time in both runs on the technically demanding track. Their total time was 1:22.915 minutes. Wendl/Arlt were 0.095 seconds behind, Steu/Kindl already 0.386. They were followed by Juri Gatt/Riccardo Schöpf (Austria), who were 0.576 seconds behind, which the World Champions mainly made up in the second run. In fifth place were the Germans Hannes Orlamünder/Paul Gubitz (0.711) ahead of the Americans Dana Kellog/Frank Ike (0.777).

Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer once again came out on top of the Overall World Cup in the women's doubles. The two Italians triumphed like last year. "Wow, winning the big crystal globe for the second time," said a jubilant Vötter, before adding: "But the competition is getting tougher and tougher. It was more fiercely contested than our first success." In view of the tough duel with the Germans Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal, Oberhofer said: "The ball will take pride of place." They scored 955 points, Degenhardt/Rosenthal 895. The fall in the sprint a week ago weighs heavily in the final tally. Nevertheless, they also received a crystal globe, albeit only the small one for their success in the individual races. Third in the final standings were the doubles debutants Dajana Eitberger and Saskia Schirmer (Germany/886). "Our expectations were lower than what came out in the end," admitted Eitberger and continued: "It was an interesting year, it was an instructive year. I learned a lot about myself. Double is different."

Degenhardt/Rosenthal won the final race in 1:24.648 minutes. "Two best times, one of them a track record - we are very proud," said Degenhardt. The new record is 42.271 seconds. The German double victory was secured by Eitberger/Schirmer, 0.254 seconds behind. Third place went to the two World Champions from Austria, Selina Egle and Lara Kipp (0.283 seconds behind). "Another third place," said Egle, who had started the season very well with two victories. Partner Kipp was pleased with her progress: "We got a better and better grip on the track. We always had a little wobble out of 14, but today we went straight in both runs."

In view of their success in the overall World Cup, Vötter/Oberhofer were happy with fourth place (0.381). Chevonne Forgan/Sophia Kirkby were satisfied with fifth place (0.472) and their performance. The Americans had set a time of 1.617 seconds at the start in the first run - a start record! - two thousandths of a second better than the old record set by Degenhardt/Rosenthal.