Home victory for Franziska Hofer (ITA) at the FIL Alpine Luge Junior World Cup in the Passeier Valley/Val Passiria (ITA). The 16-year-old celebrated her first Junior World Cup win on Epiphany.

(from left) Nina Castiglioni (ITA), Franziska Hofer (ITA) and TIna Stuffer (ITA)

Passeier Valley/Val Passiria (FIL/06 January 2026) Franziska Hofer caused a surprise on her home track. With the fastest time in both runs, she claimed her first Junior World Cup victory in 1:52.95 minutes, ahead of her team-mates Nina Castiglioni (ITA, +0.87 seconds) and Junior World Champion Tina Stuffer (ITA, +1.25). At the season opener in Winterleiten (AUT) at the end of December 2025, Hofer had finished no higher than ninth, with sixth place being her best result to date.

In the overall standings, Castiglioni leads with 185 points ahead of Hofer (139) and Lotte Mulser (ITA, 130).

Slovenians dominate men’s singles

The Slovenians are setting the pace in the men’s singles at the Junior World Cup: after the opening victory in Winterleiten by Vid Kralj, it was his younger brother Žiga who came out on top in Passeier. With a total time of 1:51.14 minutes, the 17-year-old secured his second Junior World Cup win, ahead of Paolo Auer (AUT, +0.22 seconds) and Vid Kralj (+0.29).

(from left) Paolo Auer (AUT), Ziga Kralj (SLO) and Vid Kralj (SLO)

At the top of the overall standings, the three-way battle continues: Vid Kralj and Auer are level on 170 points each, followed by Žiga Kralj (160).

The Alpine Luge Junior World Cup continues on 10–11 January in Umhausen (AUT) with the penultimate race of the season.