Junior World Championships in Sigulda this weekend

Sigulda (RWH) Just a fortnight after hosting the Viessmann World Cup, the Latvian town of Sigulda is set to return to the spotlight when the 2017 Junior World Champions are crowned there this weekend (February 4-5, 2017). All races will be covered in a live stream on the FIL homepage (www.fil-luge.org)

Local hero Krister Aparjods is the title favorite ahead of the 32nd championships for up-and-coming lugers. The Latvian slider won gold at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Lillehammer, Norway. The Junior World Cup standings are currently topped by the Russian Evgeniy Petrov, who competed in the two overseas events in Calgary at the start of the season, which Aparjods missed. Other promising youngsters include the Austrian Nico Gleirscher, who took victory in Innsbruck, and Germany’s Max Langenhan, who recently won the Junior European Championships in Oberhof.

Tatiana Tcvetova (RUS) is the frontrunner in the women’s Junior World Cup.  Other title contenders include the current European Championship silver medallist Hannah Prock (AUT) and German luger Jessica Tiebel (silver at the 2016 YOG). Hannah Prock is the daughter of Austria’s double World Champion Markus Prock. The Italian pairing of Ivan Nagler/Fabian Malleier currently lead the World Cup doubles standings. The German duo of Hannes Orlamünder/Paul Gubitz clinched European Championship gold in Oberhof.