At the season finale in the FIL World Cup in natural track luge in Umhausen (AUT), the first decisions in the overall standings were made on Saturday evening. Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) secured the big crystal globe in the doubles for the first time, while Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) celebrated her seventh overall victory in the women's singles.

Titelbild Collage Umhausen I

Lambacher/Lambacher (above) and Evelin Lanthaler

Umhausen (FIL/02/18/2023) Thaw on the 955 meter long "Grantau"-track. In order to protect the natural ice, the finale must be held in just one run and not as usual in two runs. In the doubles, Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) celebrated their third win in a row in 1:22.08 minutes. With second place, Lambacher/Lambacher (+0.83 seconds) secured the overall victory for the first time, third place for the Junior European Champions Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA/+2.95). Pigneter/Clara (640 points) finished second in the overal standings, in front of Junior World Champions Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) with 370 points.

First overall World Cup victory for the brothers Patrick and Matthias Lambacher (ITA)

“We've improved every year and this season has been just perfect. Our first World Cup win, our first World Championship title and now our first victory in the overall standings. It's incredible,” said Patrick Lambacher happily.

“In the beginning we had a few problems, sometimes not the necessary luck. With three wins in a row in the second half of the season, we showed that we're still up there. It was an exciting and fair fight with Lambacher/Lambacher, congratulations to our teammates,” said Florian Clara sportily.

Lanthaler secures overall victory with one race to go

The penultimate race of the season was on the program for the singles on Saturday evening. After a slow beginning in the upper part of the track Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) in 1:18.09 minutes not only secured her sixth win of the season in a row in the women's race, she also won the overall standings prematurely. It is the seventh overall-globe for the 31-year-old. With second place, Greta Pinggera (ITA) also climbed to second place in the overall standings, ahead of Tina Unterberger (AUT). Before the finale on Sunday, Pinggera and Unterberger are only separated by eleven points, this means whoever of the two is ahead in the last race grabs second place in the overall standings.

(from left) Greta Pinggera (ITA), Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) and Tina Unterberger (AUT)

“It wasn't easy today because of the conditions, it was difficult to adjust the material to the wet and soft ice. I felt more and more comfortable as the run progressed, and in the end it turned out to be a really good run. I can't say more - I'm just happy," Lanthaler explained about winning the big globe for the seventh time.

Kammerlander dominates
Local hero Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) celebrated his third win of the season with a flawless performance in 1:16.78 minutes, ahead of Florian Clara (ITA/+1.00 second) and Junior World Champion Fabian Brunner (ITA/+1.04). World Champion Alex Gruber (ITA) didn't find the right feeling and had to settle for fifth place (+1.50). Before the finale on Sunday, “Kammi” has taken the lead in the overall standings with 495 points, 25 points ahead of Gruber. Third (431 points) is Vice World Champion Michael Scheikl (AUT), who finished seventh on Saturday evening.

26th carreer victory for Thomas Kammerlander (AUT)

“I am pretty sure that these conditions played into my hands. It's my 26th World Cup win and that’s important for me. I wouldn't speak of a preliminary decision in the overall World Cup, that can very quickly look different again in the finale on Sunday," Kammerlander said.

The season finale on Sunday on the "Grantau"-track will be the farewell race for three top athletes: Greta Pinggera (2017 World Champion), Alex Gruber (2017/2019/2023 World Champion) and Thomas Kammerlander (2021 World Champion) are ending their successful careers.

All races in Umhausen (AUT) will be broadcast live on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL at www.fil-luge.org.

Results Umhausen, Samstag
Doubles (Finale)

1.    Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) 1.22,08 minutes
2.    Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) +0,83 seconds
3.    Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) +2,95
4.    Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (SLO) +3,96

Women’s singles (6/7)
1.    Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) 1.18,09 minutes
2.    Greta Pinggera (ITA) +1,34 seconds
3.    Tina Unterberger (AUT) +1,60
4.    Michelle Diepold (AUT) +1,63
5.    Sarah Schiller (GER) +1,78
6.    Jenny Castiglioni (ITA) +2,02

Men’s singles (6/7)
1.    Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) 1.16,78 minutes
2.    Florian Clara (ITA) +1,00 second
3.    Fabian Brunner (ITA) +1,04
4.    Daniel Gruber (ITA) +1,27
5.    Alex Gruber (ITA) +1,50
6.    Stefan Federer (SUI) +1,71

The program of the double World Cup in Umhausen (AUT)*
Sunday, 02/19/2023

10 a.m.: 1st run women’s singles (race 2)
10.45 a.m.: 1st run men’s singles (race 2)
12 o'clock: Final run women’s singles (race 2), followed by a flower ceremony
12.45 p.m.: Final run men’s singles (race 2), followed by flower ceremony
2 p.m.: Team competition, followed by flower ceremony
3.30 p.m.: Award ceremonies

*Subject to change