In the Junior World Cup for natural track luge, Alex Oberhofer (ITA) has further cemented his position at the top. At the second stage held in Passeiertal/Val Passiria (ITA), the 19-year-old celebrated his second victory of the season on Saturday.

Passeiertal/Val Passiria (FIL/04.01.2025) Alex Oberhofer continues to set the pace. On Saturday, the athlete from the Italian national team posted the fastest times in both runs on the "Bergkristall" track. With a combined time of 1:49.97, he was 0.66 seconds ahead of Vid Kralj (SLO), who had finished fourth in the season opener in Winterleiten. The podium in Passeiertal was completed by Ziga Kralj (SLO), who finished third (+0.94).

(from left) Vid Kralj (SLO), Alex Oberhofer (ITA) and Ziga Kralj (SLO)

In the overall standings, Oberhofer leads with a maximum of 200 points, followed by Ziga Kralj with 155 points, narrowly ahead of his brother Vid (145), and Anton Gruber Genetti (ITA/130).
In the women’s singles, Tina Stuffer (ITA/1:52.73) claimed her first Junior World Cup victory, thanks to the fastest run in the second heat. She beat halfway leader Jenny Castiglioni (ITA/+0.22) and Lotte Mulser (ITA/+1.10). Winterleiten winner Nina Castiglioni (ITA) finished fourth. In the overall standings, the competition remains tight, with four athletes battling for the lead. Nina Castiglioni tops the table with 160 points, followed closely by Stuffer, Jenny Castiglioni, and Mulser, each with 155 points.

(from left) Jenny Castiglioni (ITA), Tina Stuffer (ITA) and Lotte Mulser (ITA)

In the doubles, Anton Gruber Genetti/Jakob Gruber Genetti (ITA/1:04.08) celebrated their first Junior World Cup win on Friday, ahead of Poland's Wojciech Kwiecinski/Patryk Hudy and Konrad Plonka/Nikolas Dawidowski. The winners of the Winterleiten event, Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (SVK), did not compete in Passeiertal.

(from left) Wojciech Kwiecinski/Patryk Hudy (POL), Anton Gruber Genetti/Jakob Gruber Genetti (ITA) and Konrad Plonka/Nikolas Dawidowski (POL)

The Junior World Cup in natural track luge continues on 11–12 January at the "Grantau" track in Umhausen (AUT).