The training day at the 13th FIL Luge Junior World Championships on natural track in Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA) went very well. The distances on the "Tonnerboden-track" are extremely tight, and the favorites were not always in front.

The final-S at the "Tonnerboden-track"

The training runs took place on Friday in perfect conditions on the 658 meter long "Tonnerboden-track“. The overall winner of the Junior World Cup, Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) and local hero Katharina Hofer (ITA) finished ex-aequo first in the first training session (54.09 seconds). Jenny Castiglioni (ITA), another South Tyrolean, was 0.37 seconds behind in third place. In the second training run, Ruetz again set the best time in 53.84 seconds, ahead of Hofer (+0.31 seconds) and Sarah Schiller (GER/+0.35 seconds).

Best time in both training runs for Riccarda Ruetz (AUT)

In the men's singles, Daniel Gruber (ITA) confirmed his role as a favorite. The three-time winner of the season in the Junior World Cup set the best time in both training runs (52.31/51.76 seconds), in the second run his teammate Fabian Brunner (ITA) came within 0.06 seconds of Gruber.

One of the favorites: Daniel Gruber (ITA)

The doubles race also promises high excitement. The serial winners in the Junior World Cup, Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) had to settle for third place in both runs. In the first practice session, the Russians Pavel Ivashevich/Vlacheslav Kudriavtsev set the fastest time in 56.30 seconds ahead of their teammates Aleksandr Bushko/Aleksandr Kalitov (+0.49 seconds). In the second training run, Bushko/Kalitov secured the best time in 56.29 seconds, ahead of the Slovenians Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (0.03 seconds) and Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner (+0.16 seconds).

“The training went very well, the athletes praise the track. The workers are on the track around the clock to ensure fair conditions for everyone. We're looking forward to the races," says Manfred Siller, President of ASV Jaufental.

The program of the 13th FIL Junior World Championships
Saturday, February 5th, 2022
9.30 a.m.: 1st race doubles
10.15 a.m.: Final race doubles, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony
11:00 a.m.: 1st race single-seater women and single-seater men

Sunday, February 6th, 2022
9.30 a.m.: 2nd race single-seater women and single-seater men
11.30 a.m.: Final run singles women and singles men, followed by flower ceremony
1.30 p.m.: Award ceremony for singles women and singles men