Next weekend, the new season of the FIL Alpine Luge World Cup gets under way with a double World Cup in Winterleiten (AUT). With the first two races on Saturday and Sunday, a new era begins following the retirements of Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), Patrick Pigneter (ITA) and others.

The FIL Alpine Luge World Cup season 2025/2026 kicks off on Saturday

Winterleiten (FIL / 17 December 2025) The Winterleiten Luge Centre in Styria has been a permanent fixture on the World Cup calendar for many years. As in the 2024/2025 season, the 2025/2026 World Cup winter will once again start with a double World Cup. On both Saturday and Sunday, competitions begin with the single classification run in the doubles event, followed by the first runs in the women’s singles and men’s singles, before the final runs take place later in the morning.

One-minute barrier broken for the first time

Last year, Evelin Lanthaler and Michael Scheikl (AUT) claimed victory in the singles events on both race days. Both have since ended their competitive careers and will no longer be on the start line. However, Scheikl secured his place in Winterleiten’s history books: with a run time of 59.57 seconds, the Styrian set a new track record. Fabian Brunner (ITA/59.68) and Alex Oberhofer (ITA/59.83) also broke the one-minute barrier. In the doubles event, local favourites Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) won on both Saturday and Sunday, ahead of Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA). The women’s races are expected to be particularly tense, as none of the starters has yet recorded a World Cup victory; Lanthaler had been unbeaten since January 2020 in Romania. Last year, Daniela Mittermair (ITA) finished second behind Lanthaler in the first World Cup, while in the second World Cup on Sunday, Tina Stuffer (ITA) placed third behind the also-retired Tina Unterberger (AUT) and winner Lanthaler.

Thaw as a factor of uncertainty

The organisers from SC Obdach are keeping a close eye on the unusually mild temperatures at the moment. Thawing conditions are also forecast for the World Cup weekend at Winterleiten, with maximum temperatures of up to +7 degrees Celsius. “The track is still in perfect condition,” assures Hubert Götschl, who continues to hope for sub-zero temperatures at night so that the 940-metre-long track can be kept in top shape.

“From the beginning of December, Winterleiten offers ideal training conditions, especially for the smaller nations in the FIL group. We can therefore look forward to exciting races. The field of favourites in the women’s singles is larger than ever, and in the men’s event at least five athletes are capable of winning,” explains Andreas Castiglioni, Sport Director for Alpine Luge at the International Luge Federation (FIL).

Programme – FIL Alpine Luge World Cup, Winterleiten*
Friday, 19 December 2025
09:00: National training – women’s singles and men’s singles
10:30: National training – women’s singles and men’s singles
12:30: National training – doubles
Followed by team captains’ meeting

Saturday, 20 December 2025
09:00: Classification run – doubles, followed by flower ceremony
09:30: 1st classification run – women’s singles
10:00: 1st classification run – men’s singles
11:00: Final run – women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
11:45: Final run – men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
Followed by team captains’ meeting
Followed by prize-giving ceremony – women’s singles, men’s singles and doubles

Sunday, 21 December 2025
09:00: Classification run – doubles, followed by flower ceremony
09:30: 1st classification run – women’s singles
10:00: 1st classification run – men’s singles
11:00: Final run – women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
11:45: Final run – men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
Followed by prize-giving ceremony – women’s singles, men’s singles and doubles

*Programme subject to change