Madeleine Egle, Jonas Müller and Steu/Koller Austrian National Champions

Innsbruck (FIL/ÖRV) Only six days before the start of the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup in Innsbruck-Igls, Austria's luge athletes determined the national champions on their home track. While Madeleine Egle and Thomas Steu/Lorenz Koller were able to defend their titles, Jonas Müller secured the title of Austrian State Champion for the first time. 

The vice world champion twice set the fastest time in the run and relegated Olympic champion David Gleirscher to second place and his younger brother Nico Gleirscher to bronze. Jonas Müller was pleased: “Today I became state champion for the first time with two really good runs and I am absolutely satisfied. The track was great, the weather was perfect, the conditions were just great. At the start I wasn't completely satisfied, there's certainly still something in it, but I'm glad that it was enough”.

In the women's race, Madeleine Egle secured the title of state champion, as she did last year. The 22-year-old Olympic bronze medallist with the team relay relegated Lisa Schulte and Hannah Prock to the other podium places. In the doubles' event, Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller convinced with best times and the victory in their competition comeback after Thomas Steu' fracture of the shin and calf bone last season. Yannick Müller and Armin Frauscher were second, bronze went to Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schöpf.

The ÖRV team for the World Cup opener in Innsbruck was named by head coach and sports director Rene Friedl. As the fourth lady in the World Cup team, the only 16-year-old Tyrolean Barbara Allmaier will make her World Cup debut in Igls. This will exhaust the starting line-up of five men, four women and three doubles.

Photos: ÖRV