Max Langenhan wins first European Championship title of his career

Sigulda (FIL/14 Jan 2023) The race script could not have been written more exciting. Germany's Max Langenhan wins his first European Championship title on the Sigulda Luge Track ahead of teammate Felix Loch and local hero Kristers Aparjods. After a messed up first run, the 23-year-old still passed everyone from twelfth place with a best run time of 48.410 seconds and won in an overall time of 1:37.588 ahead of Loch (+0.058 sec.) and Aparjods (+0.085 sec.).

“I didn't think it would be enough. After my hard cushion and almost crash in the first run, everything hurt and I didn't even want to compete. My neck and shoulder are pretty damaged, but our medical team treated me very well during the break. I'm still happy about the victory and trust our physios to get me back in shape for the World Championships in two weeks,” Max Langenhan explained, who couldn't really believe his victory.

For three-time Olympic champion Felix Loch it was the sixth European Championship medal in total. In addition to his three gold, one silver and two bronze medals, he also added a silver. “I'm glad that Max is back and now I don't have to hold up the flag in front alone anymore. We are now preparing for the World Championships together and are really looking forward to racing in front of our home crowd in Oberhof,” the 33-year-old from Bayerisch Gmain said.

Nico Gleirscher (AUT, +0,245 sec.) showed once more that the track in Sigulda suits him. However, the 25-year-old sports soldier dropped back to the ungrateful fourth place on the strongly slackening track as the leader of the first run. “I got the maximum out in the first run, in the second was then due to the track and the last starting number not really more possible. Of course I miss the medal, but I can't blame myself too much today and hope to contribute to a successful finish in tomorrow's team relay,” explained the Stubai athlete afterwards.

Italy's Dominik Fischnaller finished fifth (+0.328 sec.), but was able to defend his lead in the overall World Cup. The 20-year-old Latvian Gints Berzins finished sixth, 0.434 seconds behind, but was happy about the victory in the U23 European Championship ranking.

The results of the 5th Men's World Cup of the 2022/23 season are available at the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/eberspaecher-weltcup-23

For all European Championship and U23 European Championship results follow this link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/fil-europa-meisterschaften-4