Home victory and historic overall World Cup win for Riccarda Ruetz

Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) won the Eliminator in Umhausen (AUT) on Sunday, bringing the overall World Cup title back to Austria for the first time in 27 years.

The Eliminator on the Grantau track on Sunday was awash in red-white-red. In the women’s singles, Riccarda Ruetz celebrated her fourth victory of the season, while Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) followed suit in the men’s singles, winning not only Saturday’s World Cup race but also Sunday’s Eliminator.

Historic result for Riccarda Ruetz (AUT)

Umhausen (FIL/08.02.2026) – The 955-metre natural luge track “Grantau” produced a race for the history books on Sunday. The Eliminator final featured Nadine Staffler (ITA), European Champion Nina Castiglioni (ITA), Lisa Walch (GER) and Riccarda Ruetz (AUT). Ruetz showed a truly flawless run, securing her fourth win of the season in 1:14.21 minutes, ahead of Castiglioni (1:15.34) and Walch (1:15.67), while Staffler finished fourth in 1:17.00.

(from left) Nina Castiglioni (ITA), Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) and Lisa Walch (GER)

“I was completely focused, I wanted to show what I can, and I managed to do that,” said Ruetz, who was initially unsure at the finish whether she had already won the overall World Cup title with one race still to go. With her Eliminator victory, the 21-year-old can no longer be overtaken at the top of the World Cup standings and is crowned overall World Cup Champion for the first time. “I’m absolutely delighted – that was my big goal,” Ruetz said. After 27 years, the women’s large crystal globe returns to Austria; the last Austrian overall winner was Ötztal native Elvira Holzknecht in the 1998–1999 season.

Achenrainer also unbeatable in the Eliminator

Fabian Achenrainer leaves the Ötztal with two wins in two days. Just 24 hours after his World Cup victory, the 25-year-old also won the Eliminator – with an impressive time of 1:13.00 minutes. Daniel Gruber (ITA) finished second in 1:13.56, ahead of his team-mates Hannes Unterholzner (1:13.68) and Mathias Troger (1:13.91).

(from left) Daniel Gruber (ITA), Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) and Hannes Unterholzner (ITA)

“That was a perfect weekend for me – two races, two wins, it doesn’t get any better than that,” Achenrainer said after claiming his third victory of the season.

Ahead of the final in Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA) on 21 February, Gruber leads the overall standings with 525 points, followed by Achenrainer (470) and Troger (385).

Results – Women’s Singles Eliminator Final
1.    Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) – 1:14.21 minutes
2.    Nina Castiglioni (ITA) – 1:15.34
3.    Lisa Walch (GER) – 1:15.67
4.    Nadine Staffler (ITA) – 1:17.00

Results – Men’s Singles Eliminator Final
1.    Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) – 1:13.00 minutes
2.    Daniel Gruber (ITA) – 1:13.56
3.    Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) – 1:13.68
4.    Mathias Troger (ITA) – 1:13.91