The FIL Junior World Cup in natural track luge in Passeier/Val Passiria (ITA) ended on Thursday with the decisions in the singles. The juniors fought thrilling races on the “Bergkristall”-track.

Passeier/Val Passiria (FIL/05.01.2023) The start of the second stage in the Junior World Cup was provided by the doubles on Wednesday. The favorites Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) celebrated their second win of the season in 59.65 minutes, ahead of their teammates Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (+0.35 seconds). The Slovenian junior world champions Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj came in third (+1.05 seconds). Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner lead the overall ranking with 200 points, followed by Paur/Hofer and Vertelj/Kralj with 155 points each.

Podium doubles

The Italians continue to dominate in the men's singles: After the fivefold victory at the start in Winterleiten (AUT) by the end of the year, the hosts achieved a quadruple victory this time. Junior world champion Fabian Brunner laid the foundation for success in the first run with a clear best time. In the final run, the 19-year-old set the third-best time an won with a total time of 1:51.09 minutes, followed by Hannes Unterholzner (+0.35 seconds) and the winner of the opening round, Alex Oberhofer (+0.55 seconds). With his first win of the season, Brunner has taken the lead in the overall standings with 185 points, ahead of his teammates Oberhofer (170) and Unterholzner (155).

Podium men's singles: (from left) Unterholzner (ITA), Brunner (ITA), Oberhofer (ITA), Gruber Genetti (ITA) and Kralj (SLO)

Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) celebrated her second win of the season in the women's singles with the fastest time in both runs. In 1:54.90 minutes, she prevailed Jenny Castiglioni (ITA/+0.77 seconds) and Ivonne Müller (ITA/1.86 seconds). Ruetz leads the overall standings with 200 points, ahead of Castiglioni (155) and Tina Stuffer (ITA/145), who missed the podium on Thursday in fourth place.

Podium women's singles: (from left) Castiglioni (ITA), Ruetz (ITA), Müller (ITA), Stuffer (ITA) and Schiller (GER)

The Junior World Cup continues on January 21st and 22nd on the Alpe di Siusi (ITA).

Results Junior World Cup Passeierta/Val Passiria (ITA)

Top-3 doubles
1. Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) 59.65 minutes
2. Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA) +0.35 seconds
3. Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) +1.05 seconds

Top-3 men's singles
1. Fabian Brunner (ITA) 1:51.09 minutes
2. Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) +0.35 seconds
3. Alex Oberhofer (ITA) +0.55 seconds

Top-3 women’s singles 
1. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) 1:54.90 minutes
2. Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) +0.77 seconds
3. Ivonne Müller (ITA) +1.86 seconds