This is a victory for the history books. At the 30th FIL European Championships in Natural Track Luge in Jaufental/Val Giovo (ITA), Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) grabed the gold medal on Saturday afternoon. It is the first European title in the doubles for Austria in 22 years.

Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) are the European Champions 2024 in doubles 

Jaufental/Val Giovo (FIL/03.02.2024) As is well known, title fights have their own laws, this old wisdom has proven true again. After winning the night race on Friday evening, Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher were the favorites on the Tonnerboden track, with the Azzurri taking the lead in 58.20 seconds. Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger were the last doubles to go on the track and until the last split it looked like a run for silver. With a brilliant finish, Pichler/Edlinger gained almost 0.30 seconds in the last ten seconds and crossed the finish line as winners in 58.00 seconds. The bronze medal for the newly crowned overall doubles winners in the Junior World Cup, Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA/+0.88 seconds).

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

“We are a bit surprised ourselves, also because we had big troubles at the first corner. This track doesn't allow any mistakes and we mastered the finish-S perfectly. That was the key to success,” says Nico Edlinger happily. “We were on point at the right moment and went into today’s race with extra motivation,” explains Maximilian Pichler. For Pichler/Edlinger it is the first major title of their young career and at the same time a historic gold medal for Austria. Wolfgang Schopf/Andreas Schopf won the last European title in the doubles for Austria in 2002 in Frantschach-Sankt Gertraud (AUT).

“Congratulations to Pichler/Edlinger, they deserve the gold medal, they were simply the best today. Of course you always want to win, but that's sport. We are very happy with the silver medal,” explains Peter Lambacher, who is competin in doubles with his brother Matthias for the first time this season.

“We completely botched the starting curve, so there was nothing more we could do. This bronze medal is definately another highlight for us in this outstanding season,” says Andreas Hofer, who competes with frontman Tobias Paur at the Junior World Championships on February 10th/11th in Winterleiten (AUT), where they will chase the gold medal.

30th European Championships Natural Track Luge, Top 6 Doubles (02/03/2024)
1. Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT), 58.00 seconds
2. Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA), +0.20 seconds
3. Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA), +0.88
4. Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK), +1.76
5. Bine Mekina/Simon Diez (GER), +2.15
6. Tomas Hasek/David Rydl (CZE), +4.21