The countdown is on for the 29th FIL Luge European Championships on Natural Track in Lasa/Lasa (ITA). The title fights starts with the training on Friday, February 11th, on Saturday and Sunday there are two medal decisions on the program.

The "Gafair-track" on the edge of the Stelvio National Park is the scene of the medal hunt. The women will start on Saturday. Defending champion Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) is also the big favorite this time, but with Greta Pinggera and Nadine Staffler two competitors come directly from Laas and thus enjoy an extra home advantage. Vice European champion Ekaterina Lavrenteva also has a home advantage, the Russians have their headquarter in winter in Laas and often train on the "Gafair track". Just in time for the title fights, Tina Unterberger, who came third in the European Championship 2020, is also showing an upward trend.

Defending champion Evelin Lanthaler (ITA)

Immediately afterwards, the European champions in doubles will be crowned: Defending champions Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) made it onto the podium for the first time this season at the last World Cup in Deutschnofen. However, the role of favorites lies with their teammates Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA), who have won all four World Cup races of the season so far. Also among the medal contenders are Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer (AUT) and Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS).

Defending champions Lambacher/Lambacher (ITA)

In the men's singles on Sunday, a showdown is looming between title defender Michael Scheikl (AUT) and the two-time winners of the season, Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) and Alex Gruber (ITA). At last year's European Championship dress rehearsal, Kammerlander beat Scheikl and Gruber by 0.04 seconds, who both finished second at the same time. Patrick Pigneter in fourth place was only 0.07 seconds behind the winner.

Defending champion Michael Scheikl (AUT)

In the team competition, everything points to a victory for the hosts. The defending champions won both races this season, ahead of Team Austria and Team Russia.
"We are ready for the European Championship. The icetrack survived the onslaught of the mild foehn wind. Above all, I would like to thank the hard-working workers on the track,” explains race director Günther Staffler.

The title fights in Laas will be broadcast live on the website of the International Luge Federation at www.fil-luge.org/en/live-streaming-natural

The program of the 29th FIL European Luge Championships on Natural Track in Laas/Lasa (ITA)
Friday, 02/11/2022
9.30 a.m.: Nations training singles, followed by nations training doubles

Saturday, 02/12/2022
9.30 a.m.: 1st run singles women
10.30 a.m.: 1st run doubles
11.15 a.m.: Final run women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony
12.15 p.m.: Final run, doubles, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony

Sunday, February 13, 2022
9.30 a.m.: 1st run men’s singles
11.30 a.m.: Final run single-seater men, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony
1:00 p.m.: Team competition, followed by a flower ceremony and award ceremony