Julia Taubitz takes third Viessmann World Cup win

Lake Placid (RWH) All good things come in threes – World Championship silver medallist Julia Taubitz has taken her third career win in the Viessmann Luge World Cup. The 23-year-old from Oberwiesenthal secured victory on the ice track at Mount van Houvenberg in Lake Placid, NY, ahead of World Championship bronze medallist Emily Sweeney in second. After last year’s successes in Calgary (CAN) and Königssee (GER), Julia Taubitz has added her name to the list of winners in the two-time Olympic host town of Lake Placid (1932 and 1980). On her second run, Sweeney set a new track record of 43.688 seconds before Taubitz lowered the benchmark to 43.658 seconds.

Third place went to Russia’s Viktoriia Demchenko, who won the Viessmann World Cup and the BMW Sprint World Cup in Sochi last year. The three-time European Champion Tatyana Ivanova, who took victory in the season opener in Innsbruck, finished eighth in Lake Placid.

The Austrian women’s team had a nightmare day. Hannah Prock failed to finish after a fall, while Madeleine Egle could only manage 20th.

Julia Taubitz leads the overall standings of the Viessmann Luge World Cup with 170 points, followed by Summer Britcher (USA) in second on 145 points and Russia’s Tatyana Ivanova (142 points).

Quotes

Julia Taubitz (GER / World Championship silver medallist 2019)

“This is just amazing. I’d never thought it was possible a few years ago. The track is in really good shape. I was hoping for a track record on my first run. I didn’t realise Emily has beaten the benchmark.”

Emily Sweeney (USA / World Championship bronze medallist 2019)

“I am delighted to take second at home with my family and friends watching.”