One week after the World Championships in Kühtai (AUT), the FIL Natural Track Luge World Cup continues in Mariazell (AUT). On January 25th-26th the second half of the season kicks off on the "Mariazellerland" natural track in the St. Sebastian district.

View from the track to the centre of Mariazell

Mariazell (FIL/22 January 2025) Local hero Michael Scheikl (AUT) competes for the first time as World Champion. The Styrian athlete secured the long-awaited gold medal in the men’s singles last Sunday. At the same time, the 35-year-old is the "defending champion“, having defeated Alex Gruber (ITA) at the last World Cup in February 2022. In the overall standings for the current season, Scheikl leads after three races with 270 points, ahead of Florian Clara (ITA/230) and Alex Oberhofer (ITA/216).

Lanthaler Aiming for World Cup Record

In the women’s singles, Evelin Lanthaler is the clear favourite. With a win in Mariazell, the World Champion would equal Ekaterina Lavrenteva’s record of 55 victories on the all-time leaderboard. Lanthaler, who secured her fifth World Championship title in Kühtai, already tops the World Championship leaderboard. Vice-World Champion Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) has fond memories of the "Mariazellerland" track, where she made her first World Cup podium appearance in 2022, finishing third. Lanthaler also leads the overall standings with 300 points, ahead of Daniela Mittermair (ITA/225) and Tina Unterberger (AUT/195).

First-Time Winners in Doubles

The 2022 doubles champions, Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA), will not be competing, as both have shifted their focus to singles. This means new winners will be crowned on Saturday. The favourites are Vice-World Champions Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT), who have won all three World Cups this season so far. Pichler/Edlinger lead the overall standings with 300 points, followed by Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA/240) and World Champions Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA/225).

Due to the current thaw, the World Cup in Mariazell is expected to take place on a shortened track.

Program*

Saturday, 25th January
9:00 am: National training - Women’s and Men’s singles
11:00 am: National training - Women’s and Men’s singles
1:00 pm: National training - Doubles
2:00 pm: Doubles race, followed by flower ceremony and awards ceremony

Sunday, 26th January
10:00 am: 1st race - Women’s singles
10:30 am: 1st race - Men’s singles
11:30 am: Final race - Women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
12:15 pm: Final race - Men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony and awards ceremony for both Women’s and Men’s singles

*Subject to change