The 13th FIL Luge Junior World Championships on natural track started with a big surprise on Saturday in Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA). In the doubles, Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) grabbed the gold medal. It is the first World Championship title for Slovenia in luge.
Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) in action
The Slovenians Vertelj/Kralj started the medal hunt on the 658 meter long "Tonnerboden-track" in the Wipptal luge center with bib number one. After a hesitant start, they drove the lower section confidently and clocked the time at 55.81 seconds. Russia's Aleksandr Bashko/Aleksandr Kalitov and Pavel Ivashkevisch/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev followed, 0.06 and 0.08 seconds back, respectively, while gold favorites Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) were 0.23 seconds behind in fourth place. In the final round, Vertelj/Kralj followed showed an impressive performance. In 55.64 seconds they grabed the gold medal with a total time of 1.51.45 minutes. Silver for Russia's Bashko/Kalitov (+0.28s), bronze to their teammates Ivashkevisch/Kudriavtsev (+0.69s).
(from left) Aleksandr Bashko/Aleksandr Kalitov (RUS), Vic Kralj/Matevz Vertelj (SLO) and Pavel Ivashkevisch/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev (RUS)
"It's incredible. We only made it onto the podium once in the Junior World Cup and now we have the gold medal,” Vertelij was happy about the biggest success of his young career so far. “The first run was good, the second run was even better. We were hardly nervous during the break," Kralj analyzed the historic success. For Slovenia it is the first gold medal in luge on natural track, so far the World Cup victory in Olang (ITA) in 2003 by Borut Kralj, Vid's father, has been the greatest sporting success.
Kralj and Vertelj celebrating their victory
Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner, on the other hand, had sour faces after fourth place. The dominators in the Junior World Cup (four wins in four races) had a black day. “We have no words. That was the worst performance of the entire winter. We had problems from the start. Congratulations to the Slovenians,” said Unterholzner as a fair sportsman.
Then the first run in the women's singles was on the agenda. With Katharina Hofer (ITA), a local hero is leading, the favorite Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) follows just 0.66 seconds behind in second place. Behind them are Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) and Sarah Schiller (GER), the two separate only 0.02 seconds after the first run. In the men's singles, the hosts dominated the first run. Gold favorite Daniel Gruber (ITA) is in the lead with a time of 51.85 seconds, followed by Fabian Brunner (ITA) in second place, 0.29 seconds behind, third is Alex Oberhofer (ITA/+0.45 sec.).
On Sunday, the new junior world champions in single-seaters will be crowned after the races two and three.
Top-Three Doubles 05.02.2022
1. Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) 1.51.45 minutes
2. Aleksandr Bashko/Aleksandr Kalitov (RUS) +0,28 sec.
3. Pavel Ivashkevisch/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev (RUS) +0,69 sec.
Top-Three Women’s Single (after first run), 05.02.2022
1. Katherina Hofer (ITA) 53,04 sec.
2. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) +0,66 sec.
3. Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) +1,09 sec.
Top-Three Men‘s Single (after first run), 05.02.2022
1. Daniel Gruber (ITA) 51,85 sec.
2. Fabian Brunner (ITA) +0,29 sec.
3. Alex Oberhofer (ITA) +0,45 sec.
Medal table
1. Slovenia 1/0/0
2. Russia 0/2/0
The program of the 13th FIL Junior World Championships
Sunday, February 6th, 2022
9.30 a.m.: 2nd run women‘s single and men’s single
11.30 a.m.: Final run women‘s single and men’s single, followed by flower ceremony
1.30 p.m.: Award ceremony for women‘s single and men’s single
