Italy’s relay team win first ever European Championship title

Oberhof (RWH) For the first time in history, Italy’s luge squad has won the European Championship title in the team relay. Under the supervision of head coach Armin Zöggeler, the team of Andrea Vötter, Dominik Fischnaller and the doubles pairing of Ivan Nagler/Fabian Malleier won the Viessmann Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW race in Oberhof (GER), which meant that they also won gold in the International Luge Federation’s (FIL) 50th European Championships due to the race-in-race format.

As was also the case at the FIL World Championships in Winterberg (GER) two weeks ago, the German team – made up of Natalie Geisenberger, Johannes Ludwig and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt – once again missed out on the chance to defend their title and had to make do with silver. The bronze medal went to the Latvian team of Eliza Cauze, Inars Kivlenieks and Andris Sics/Juris Sics. The Latvian contingent won gold in 2009 when the team relay event made its début on the European Championship agenda in Cesana (ITA).

Following the fifth of six events, Germany leads the overall World Cup standings with 440 points, ahead of Russia (355) and Latvia (340). The Russian team finished fifth in Oberhof behind Austria.

Because the team relay event in Altenberg had to be cancelled due to inclement weather, it has now been rescheduled for Sochi (RUS) at 3:30 pm local time on 24 February 2019.

A total of 8,100 spectators attended the three Viessmann World Cup events in Oberhof.