The 28th FIL Luge European Championships on Natural Track started in the Russian capital Moscow on Friday. Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) successfully defended her title in the women's single, while in men’s single Michael Scheikl (AUT) is European Champion for the first time.

There were extremely tight decisions on the shortened “Sparrows-hill”-track. Defending champion Evelin Lanthaler won just 0.03 seconds ahead of local hero Ekaterina Lavrenteva and 0.04 seconds ahead of Tina Unterberger (AUT). For Lanthaler it is the third European title in a row after Passeier (ITA) 2016 and Winterleiten (AUT) 2018. 

European Champion Evelin Lanthaler

“Given the spring-like temperatures, the ice on the track wasn't bad at all. Of course I would have liked to compete from the top of the track, but this simply was not possible. Today, a fine, soulful driving style was the key to success, ”Lanthaler analyzed.

“I'm sorry for the organizers, they worked hard and organized a really nice European Championship. But we are powerless against the weather. If you wanted to win a medal today, you couldn't afford to make a mistake, ”said five-time European Champion Ekaterina Lavrenteva after winning the silver medal.

Tina Unterberger (bronze): “Moscow is actually always a first-class competition, the track is great. The race was exciting and difficult because with one small mistake you were no longer in the top 10”.

(from left) Lavrenteva, Lanthaler and Unterberger

In the men's single Michael Scheikl (AUT) won the title of European Champion for the first time. Local hero Aleksandr Egorov (+0.02) took the silver medal, bronze medal for World Champion Alex Gruber (ITA / + 0.03). Defending champion Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) finished on 9th position.

European Champion Michael Scheikl

“I am happy to take this medal. I am sorry about the really cool event in Moscow, but as an athlete you also have to win a short race. The conditions were fair and if you trained well in summer you could start quickly and have a good time, ”said European Champion Scheikl.

"I'm happy about my first medal. Winning a medal in front of the many fans at home is very special. My next goal is gold, ”said Egorov, who is also competing in the doubles with Petr Popov.

Alex Gruber: “It was very tight. Luck was on my side, my luge was 0.01 seconds faster than fourth position ”.

(from left) Egorov, Scheikl and Gruber

“A big compliment to the organizers in Moscow, who made a race possible and worked all night long. We didn’t want to leave without a competition, ”says FIL technical delegate Herbert Schwarz, defending the courageous decision against cancelling the event.

The only competition for the doubles is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the team competition. The defending champions are Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) and Team Austria.