Umhausen (ck) - For the first time ever in the natural track racing history a world cup race will count for the results of the European Championships in a race-in-race format. Umhausen, a classic in the natural track schedule for years, will host this double event. European title defenders are Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS), Patrick Pigneter (ITA) and Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS), who found back to their good shape only recently. However, there are no extra spots for title defenders in European Championships, so it will be just another world cup race. Which also means that there will be only two runs and not three, as usually in championships. The GRM World Cup in Umhausen marks the turning point in the season with three races done and three more to come after Umhausen – Olang (ITA), St. Sebastian (AUT) and the final in Romania. Whoever wants to keep Patrick Pigneter from winning his ninth consecutive overall world cup, will have to score high in Umhausen. Realistically, only Thomas Kammerlander and Michael Scheikl (both AUT) have a chance to catch Pigneter in the overall ranking. After three races they stand at only 15 and 20 points, respectively, behind Pigneter. Thomas Kammerlander will race on his home track this coming weekend, but Pigneter has won almost all races in Umhausen so far. In the women’s event as always Ekatharina Lavrentjeva is the one to beat, but of all the women racing against her, 17-year-old Carmen Planötscher (ITA) is the only one who could snatch a win from her. With only participating in two of the three races this winter and being in her first world cup winter, she already managed to move up among the seeded athletes. At least for Umhausen, as the seeding is always based on the current world cup ranking. Tina Unterberger (AUT) is ranked second in the overall GRM World Cup with a 30 point gap between her and Lavrentjeva. She will need a god result to keep that gap small. In the doubles’ event Russia’s eternal rivals of Patrick Pigneter/Clara (ITA), Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev are kept in check by their own team mates. Aleksandr Egorov/Petr Popov (RUS) had an excellent start into the season and are ranked second in the overall GRM World Cup, 30 points behind Pigneter/Clara. Egorov/Popov will be seeded for the world cup, but Porshnev/Lazarev exhibited excellent form in Passeier last week and will not have any problems to secure the second spot in the world cup. With those two strong Russian doubles, title defender and world cup leader Pigneter/Clara and also competition from the Austrian team, there will be quite a lot of medal contenders. The race in Umhausen will be held as a night event again. Friday will be the decisions for the doubles, men, women and teams will follow Saturday. Track Info Umhausen “Grantau”: Start elevation: 1160m Finish elevation: 1040m Vertical drop: 120m Length: 955m Average drop: 12,6% Program in Umhausen: Friday, 17.01.2014 from 12.00pm: Training runs form en, women and doubles 3.00pm: Qualification doubles 4.00pm: 1st Competition run GRM World Cup doubles afterwards Nations Cup doubles afterwards 2nd Competition run GRM World Cup doubles 6.00pm: Qualification women and men 8.00pm: Opening Ceremony Saturday, 18.01.2014 4.00pm: Team Event 5.30pm: 1st Competition run GRM World Cup women 1st Competition run GRM World Cup men Nations Cup women Nations Cup men 2nd Competition run GRM World Cup women 2nd Competition run GRM World Cup men 9.00pm: Medal Ceremonies