Express train Wendl/Arlt races to European Championship title

6th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup and 57th FIL European Championships in Oberhof

Oberhof (FIL/18 Jan 2026) Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt continue their winning streak in the doubles at the EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup. One week after their record victory in Winterberg, the two Germans followed up with their 59th success in Oberhof. And in what style: after two runs through the 946-meter-long ice track, they had a 0.254-second lead over their teammates Toni Eggert/Florian Müller. The second run by the six-time Olympic champions was particularly impressive. In 7.236 seconds, they missed their start record by just one thousandth of a second. “We had seven paddlers at the start, which we've never done before,” explained front man Wendl. “We confirmed the start record,” added Arlt, “we're not getting any worse with age.” Afterwards, he clapped his hands together with his partner, with whom he has formed a successful duo for 25 years, beaming with joy. “We are particularly pleased with the European Championship title,” said Wendl. The last of their three double triumphs was seven years ago. Back then, they were also able to celebrate in Oberhof.

Toni Eggert and Florian Müller were also overjoyed. Their run in the second heat was also successful, except for a small mistake in curve 13. But 11-time world champion Eggert mastered this precarious situation with all his experience. “We achieved what we could with this result,” said Eggert, “the Tobis were so incredibly fast today.”

Austrians Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schöpf came in third, 0.389 seconds behind. “We always have difficulties in Oberhof, but we are happy with how we did today,” said Gatt. With this result, the duo hopes to have an advantage in the battle for the two Olympic tickets that Austria is entitled to. Because this battle is nerve-wracking. This was evident in the runs of Yannik Müller and Armin Frauscher as well as Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl. All of them made mistakes in their runs. “We don't know yet whether we will be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games,” explained Schöpf, “the decision will only be made after next weekend.” Müller/Frauscher finished sixth, 0.507 seconds behind, with Steu/Kindl following in seventh place (0.589).

Hannes Orlamünder and Paul Gubitz were just three thousandths of a second off the podium in their home race in Oberhof. Martins Bots and Roberts Plume were 0.479 seconds slower than the winners Wendl/Arlt.

The U23 European Championship title was secured by Slovakia's Christian Bosman and Bruno Mick ahead of the two Ukrainian doubles Danyil Marsinovskyi/Bohdan Babura and Maksym Panchuk/Andrji Muts.

Schedule & TV broadcasts
6th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup, Oberhof (GER) &
57th FIL European Championships
 

Local start time (=CET/MEZ)

Sunday, January 18, 2026

10:25 a.m. Men's doubles, 1st run
11:40 a.m. Men's doubles, 2nd run

1:00 p.m. Women's doubles, 1st run
2:05 p.m. Women's doubles, 2nd run

3:30 p.m. Team relay

All information is subject to change!

Link to the European Championship results: fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/57-fil-europameisterschaften

Link to the results of the 6th EBERSPÄCHER World Cup: fil-luge.org/en/media/eberspaecher-world-cup-48