The final of the FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track was held on the “Tonnerboden-track“ in Jaufental (ITA) on Sunday. In the men’s single, local hero Fabian Brunner celebrated his fourth win of the season in the fourth race and was crowned overall World Cup winner in a superior manner. In the women’s single, Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) celebrated her fist victory of the season, ahead of Lisa Walch (GER), who secured the victory in the overall World Cup.

Fabian Brunner dominated the FIL Junior World Cup 2020/2021, with four wins in four races in Winterleiten (AUT/double World Cup), Umhausen (AUT) and Jaufental (ITA). At the final in Jaufental, Brunner set the best time in both runs, with a total time of 1.46.79 minutes, the 17-year-old clearly won ahead of Aleksei Khabibulin from Russia (+1.62 seconds) and Sebastian Feldhammer from Austria (+1.67). It is the first podium this winter for both Khabibulin and Feldhammer.
With a maximum of 400 points, Brunner secured victory in the overall World Cup for the first time, ahead of his teammates Daniel Gruber (300) and Hannes Unterholzner (255).

Fabian Brunner won the race in Jaufental and is the new overall world cup winner

“What can I say, this is clearly my best season. Four world cups - four wins, that's really cool. At the start in Winterleiten - on my favorite track - it was going really well, and for the first time I thought it could be a great season. That it worked out with the first overall victory is just perfect, ”says the Italian, who wants to be on top also at the 36th Junior European Championships on Monday.

First win of the season for Ruetz
In the women’s single the great dominator Lisa Walch (GER) had to admit defeat for the first time this season. In the final, Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) secured her first win of the season in 1.50.49 minutes, ahead of Lisa Walch (+0.18 seconds) and Katharina Hofer (ITA/+ 2.50). With three wins this season, Walch defended the overall World Cup with 385 points, ahead of Ruetz (340) and Sarah Schiller (GER/285). "Those were two good runs, but I don't see myself as the favorite for the European Championship on Monday," said Ruetz after the race. “The overall victory is important to me. The European Championship is my last chance for this junior title. My goal is a medal, ”said Walch.

(from left) Lisa Walch (GER), Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) and Katherina Hofer (ITA)

Gruber Genetti / Unterholzner win the final and overall World Cup
Anton Gruber Genetti /Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) snatched their third win of the season in the doubles. In a time of 57.75 seconds they were 0.65 seconds faster than the Slovenians Bine Mekina/Blaz Mekina. Third place for Vladimir Levichev/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev (+0.79) from Russia, followed by Maximilian Pichler/Dominik Peter Maier (AUT) in fourth place, just 0.01 seconds behind. Gruber Genetti /Unterholzner (ITA) won the overall World Cup with 385 points, Mekina/Mekina (SLO) took second place in the final with now 310 points, ahead of Pichler/Maier (AUT) with 305 points.

Overal world cup winner in doubles: Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA)

“That was a very difficult race for us. I had a crash in the single-seater and I cut on my hand. Nevertheless, I wanted to start in doubles. The joy of the victory at the competition and victory in the overall World Cup is all the greater, ”said Anton Gruber Genetti after the race. “At the European Championships we want to perform well again and compete for the medals. The gold medal would be great, ”added Hannes Unterholzner.

Peter Knauseder, Vice President of the International Luge Federation FIL, drew an extremely positive balance of the past season in the Junior World Cup. “We did not have a single corona case in any of the four Junior World Cups. The junior area is a very important point for us, we are one of the few sports that have been able to pull off a Junior World Cup, ”emphasizes Knauseder.

On Monday, February 1, 2021, the 36th FIL Junior European Championships in Luge on Natural Track are on the program on the „Tonnerboden-track“ in Jaufental.

The program
9.30 a.m .: 1st race juniors men
then: 1st competition juniors women
11 a.m .: Final men's juniors followed by an award ceremony
12 noon: Final women juniors followed by an award ceremony
1 p.m .: Double championship race followed by an award ceremony