In Umhausen (AUT) the countdown is on for the long World Cup weekend in natural track luge on the challenging Grantau-track. After the World Cup classic on Friday evening and Saturday, the only eliminator of this season is on the program on Sunday.

Tina Unterberger (AUT) on the Grantau-track

Umhausen (FIL/01/17/2023) The hall of fame in the finish stadium of the 955 meter long Grantau-track is like a who's who of luge legends: Gerhard Pilz (AUT) won the first natural track World Cup in 2001, Sandra Mariner (AUT ) prevailed in women’s singles and Reinhard Beer/Herbert Kögl (AUT) in the doubles. The record winners in the men's singles are Patrick Pigneter (ITA) and Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) with eight successes each, the two also achieved the only ex-aequo victory so far in February 2007. In the women's singles, Ekaterina Lavrenteva (RUS) leads the list with nine wins, followed by Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) with seven victories. In the doubles, Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) salute from the top with twelve victories.

At the 2023 World Cup finale in Umhausen, Thomas Kammerlander ended his sporting career with a home win; in the doubles, last year's winners Pigneter/Clara are now only competing in the singles. Only Evelin Lanthaler can defend her victory from last year.

At the last eliminator to date in January 2022 in Winterleiten (AUT), Evelin Lanthaler prevailed in the women's singles, ahead of Nadine Staffler (ITA), Tina Unterberger (AUT) and Michelle Diepold (AUT). In the men's singles, Michael Scheikl (AUT) won ahead of Alex Gruber (ITA), Thomas Kammerlander and Florian Clara. In the doubles, Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) were the fastest.

After two races, Lanthaler (200 points), Pigneter (185) and Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA/200) lead the respective overall rankings.

The races in Umhausen can be watches via livestream on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL (www.fil-luge.org).

FIL World Cup natural track luge Umhausen (AUT): The program
Friday, January 19th
3 p.m.: 1st nations training women’s singles and men’s singles
5 p.m.: 2nd nations training women’s singles and men’s singles
7 p.m.: Nations training doubles
8 p.m.: Doubles race, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony

Saturday, January 20th
1 p.m.: Eliminator doubles, followed by flower ceremony
3 p.m.: 1st run women’s singles
3.45 p.m.: 1st run men’s singles
5 p.m.: Final run women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
6 p.m.: Final run men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
7.30 p.m.: Award ceremonies for women, men and doubles

Sunday, January 21st
10 a.m.: Eliminator women‘s singles and men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony