European title comes as a complete surprise for Geisenberger - Overall World Cup to Taubitz

Overall World Cup 2021/22 Women singles

St. Moritz (FIL) When two fight, the third is happy. In the duel for the overall victory in the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup between World Champion Julia Taubitz (Germany) and Austria's Madeleine Egle in the ice track of St. Moritz, Natalie Geisenberger was happy about her 52nd World Cup victory. And the fifth European Championship title in singles. The 33-year-old German has thus drawn level with Tatjana Ivanova (Russia). "This title came as a complete surprise," said Geisenberger, "I didn't expect it at all."

In the first run Geisenberger achieved an outstanding run in 54.131 seconds. "Then I knew: Ah, the sled is racing," she told, "it was so nice to slide, I really enjoyed it." After that, her second-best time after Egle (53.969) on the 1155-metre natural ice track in Engadin in 54.059 seconds was enough for her to win ahead of the Austrian (0.155 sec. back) and Elina Ieva Vitola (0.266). Although the Latvian made a mistake right after the start, she became the U23 European Champion.

Podium Damen, St. Moritz 2022

Fourth place, 0.324 seconds behind, was enough for Julia Taubitz to win the overall World Cup for the second time after the 2019/2022 season. "For me this is the highest award because it shows the performance over the whole season," said the 25-year-old from Oberwiesenthal, "I'm overjoyed to have clinched it."

Taubitz collected 979 points, Egle has 947 points on her account, Geisenberger 772.

Egle had already said in the run-up to the World Cup final that she felt no pressure as World Cup runner-up, but was just looking forward to it. "St. Moritz is a track where I haven't raced that often," said the Tyrolean, "so I don't feel any pressure." Nevertheless, the 1.84-metre athlete was able to set a best mark: In 3.600 seconds she had managed the fastest start in the second run. Overall, the Austrian was surprised that she had clocked the fastest time of all competitors in 53.969 seconds. She had rather expected this from her competitor Taubitz. However, Taubitz was only the third fastest in 54.131 seconds.

Further information and detailed results are available at the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/eberspaecher-weltcup-16

Results list 53rd FIL European Championships: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/fil-europa-meisterschaften-2

At the end of the World Cup Final in St. Moritz, the EBERSPÄCHER Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW will be held. Start lists and results can be found here: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/eberspaecher-team-staffel-weltcup-presented-by-bmw-11

Overall World Cup standings 2021/22 season: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/gesamtstaende?event_season_id=29