First World Cup victory for Tina Stuffer

Junior World Champion wins the FIL Alpine Luge World Cup in Umhausen (AUT)

Tina Stuffer (ITA) is in the form of her life: one week ago, the 19-year-old was crowned Junior World Champion in Umhausen, and on Saturday she celebrated her first World Cup victory. In the men’s singles, Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) had luck on his side by just a hundredth of a second.

First World Cup victory for Tina Stuffer (ITA)

Umhausen (FIL/07 February 2026) – Saturday was marked by extremely tight decisions. On the 955-metre Grantau track, Tina Stuffer rocketed into first place with the fastest time in the second run. With a combined time of 2:32.86 minutes, the athlete from Val Gardena claimed her first World Cup win. Half-time leader Lisa Walch (GER) missed out on her maiden victory by just 0.05 seconds, while Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) finished third (+0.46).

“My feeling during the run wasn’t good at all – everything felt slow. At the finish I couldn’t judge my performance; it could just as well have been fourth or so. Now, of course, I’m very happy,” Stuffer said after her first World Cup triumph.

(from left) Lisa Walch (GER), Tina Stuffer (ITA) and Riccarda Ruetz (ITA)

After five of seven races, Ruetz leads the overall standings with 455 points, ahead of Walch (360) and European Champion Nina Castiglioni (ITA/316).

Successful comeback also in the men’s singles

Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) on the Grantau-track

Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) claimed his second World Cup victory on Saturday morning. The Tyrolean had been in third place after the first run on Friday afternoon. His perfect run through the final section and a total time of 2:31.01 minutes proved unbeatable. Even half-time leader Daniel Gruber (ITA) lost 0.4 seconds to Achenrainer in the final sector and finished second, just 0.02 seconds behind, ahead of local hero Leon Auer (AUT/+1.01). For the 20-year-old from Umhausen it was the first podium of his career – an early present just nine days before his 21st birthday. “I managed to carry the speed perfectly out of the penultimate corner and hold the line through the final bend – that probably saved me the win,” Achenrainer analysed his victorious run.

(from left) Daniel Gruber (ITA), Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) and Leon Auer (AUT)

Gruber leads the overall standings with 440 points, ahead of Achenrainer (370) and Troger (325).

Paur/Hofer celebrate twice

Tobias Paur and Andreas Hofer (ITA) celebrated two World Cup victories within 24 hours in the doubles. After winning on Friday evening, Paur/Hofer followed up on Saturday in the Eliminator, claiming their fourth victory overall in 1:19.30 minutes. Second place for Peter Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA/+0.17), with Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT/+0.36) third. Junior World Champions Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (SVK) finished fourth, just 0.86 seconds behind.

(from left) Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA), Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA) and Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT)

With their double success in Umhausen, Paur/Hofer also took the lead in the overall World Cup standings. “We were able to put the mistake in Deutschnofen behind us, scored the maximum points here and are now fully motivated for the World Cup final,” said Andreas Hofer ahead of the last race of the season.
After six of seven races, Paur/Hofer lead the overall standings with 490 points, ahead of Lambacher/Lambacher (485) and Pichler/Edlinger (455).

Racing in Umhausen continues on Sunday with the Eliminator for women’s and men’s singles. At the same time, the FIL Youth Games for luge athletes aged eight to 14 will be held. All races can be followed on livestream on the website of the International Luge Federation (FIL).

Top 3 – Women’s Singles, World Cup Umhausen
1.    Tina Stuffer (ITA) – 2:32.86
2.    Lisa Walch (GER) – +0.05
3.    Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) – +0.46

Top 3 – Men’s Singles, World Cup Umhausen
1.    Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) – 2:31.01
2.    Daniel Gruber (ITA) – +0.02
3.    Leon Auer (AUT) – +1.01

Top 3 – Doubles, Eliminator Umhausen
1.    Tobias Paur / Andreas Hofer (ITA) – 1:19.30
2.    Peter Lambacher / Matthias Lambacher (ITA) – +0.17
3.    Maximilian Pichler / Nico Edlinger (AUT) – +0.36

Programme (Eliminator)
Sunday, 8 February
08:45 – Round of 16, Women’s Singles
09:15 – Round of 16, Men’s Singles
11:00 – Quarter-finals, Women’s Singles
11:30 – Quarter-finals, Men’s Singles
13:15 – Final, Women’s Singles, followed by flower ceremony
13:45 – Final, Men’s Singles, followed by flower ceremony
16:30 – Prize-giving ceremony in the Grantau finish area

Programme (FIL Youth Games)
Sunday, 8 February
10:00 – 1st scoring run, Youth 1 and 2
12:00 – 1st scoring run, Youth 3 and 4
14:00 – 2nd scoring run, Youth 1 to 4
16:30 – Prize-giving ceremony in the Grantau finish area