With sixth place at the World Cup finals in Laas (ITA) the Austrian Michael Scheikl secured the overall victory in the FIL Luge World Cup on natural track for the first time. In the women's single Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) got her fifth crystal ball. Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) were already the overall winners in the doubles on Tuesday. Italy won the Nations Cup.

After the finish line Michael Scheikl let his emotions run free with a shout of joy, even though he achieved his worst result of the season with sixth place. The European Champion celebrated a double victory at the World Cup opener in Winterleiten (AUT) and kept the world cup leader's yellow jersey till the end. After the World Cup final Scheikl holds 490 points, second place for World Champion Alex Gruber (430 points), while his teammate Patrick Pigneter (430 points) came third. Because Gruber and Pigneter each have two second places, two third places and two fourth places, the result of the final counts. While Gruber finished second Pigneter finished fourth. “I have to be honest and say I'm speechless. With the overall victory, a childhood dream comes true for me. I've been on the luge for 24 years or so, holding this crystal ball in my hands is an indescribable feeling ”, explained Sheikl after the World Cup final and added: “ I'll set up this crystal ball at home in a place where I am passing by countless times every day so that I will always remember this big success."

Michael Scheikl is celebrating his first overall World Cup victory

With his fourth win of the season Thomas Kammerlander (AUT) finished on fourth place overall. With a total time of 2.06.58 minutes Kammerlander celebrated his 21st World Cup victory, razor-thin ahead of Alex Gruber (+0.06 seconds) and Mathias Troger (ITA/+ 0.14 seconds). For the 26-year-old Troger, who had already achieved his best ever World Cup result in fifth place on Tuesday, it was the first podium of his World Cup career.
“On Tuesday I was 0.04 seconds ahead, on Wednesday 0.06 seconds - from that point of view I increased my lead. The direction for the World Championships from Friday in my home village Umhausen is right”, said Kammerlander, who won the overall World Cup four times in a row.

Lanthaler unbeatable
World Champion Evelin Lanthaler had a little more trouble than expected with her sixth win of the season. After the first run, Tina Unterberger (AUT) was in the lead, and Lanthaler started a major attack from second place and finished first in 2.08.62 minutes. Unterberger, who was delighted with her first podium of the season on Tuesday, was again on the podium in second place, 0.32 seconds behind. Third place for local hero Greta Pinggera (ITA/+ 0.49 seconds). With a maximum of 600 points, Lanthaler secured her fifth victory in the overall World Cup (2015/2016, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Greta Pinggera (495 points) and Tina Unterberger (375 points) follow in the places of honor. With second place in the final Unterberger in the overall ranking passed Daniela Mittermair (ITA/356), who had been third from the start of the season.

(from left) Pinggera (ITA), Lanthaler (ITA) and Unterberger (AUT)

“It was not an easy race today, you can see that you must never let up. The girls are very fast and are waiting for their chance, ”said Evelin Lanthaler after her 32nd World Cup victory.

Doubles: First win of the season for Porshnev/Lazarev
Just in time for the 2021 World Championships in Umhausen, Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev are in top form. The Russians, who won the title fights in Umhausen ten years ago, celebrated their first win of the season on Wednesday on the “Gafair-track” in Laas. With a time of 2:17.31 minutes they kept the Austrians Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer (+0.14 seconds) at a distance. Third place for World Champions Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA /+ 0.27 seconds). “The ice on the track was pretty soft today, that's not our terrain. We are very happy that we were able to bring the lead from the first run to the finish. Now our full attention is on the World Championships”, declared Ivan Lazarev.

(from left) Achenrainer/Achenrainer (AUT), Porshnev/Lazarev (RUS) and Pigneter/Clara (ITA)

In the overall standings Pigneter/Clara won  with 555 points; for the Italians it is the 12th overall victory. The European Champions Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) took second place with 420 points, Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer finished their first full World Cup season in third place with 375 points.

Italy (4560 points) won the national ranking, ahead of Austria (3716) and Russia (2036). A total of 13 nations made it into the World Cup points.
The 2020/2021 season comes to an end with a major event: The 23rd FIL Luge World Championships on natural track begin on Friday in Umhausen (AUT). All races can be seen via livestream on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL.

The World Championship program:
Friday February 12th
Nation training

Saturday February 13th
09.00 a.m .: 1st run women’s single
10.00 a.m .: 1st run doubles
1.45 p.m .: Final run women’s single, followed by a flower ceremony
2.45 p.m .: Final run doubles, followed by a flower ceremony

Sunday February 14th
9.30 a.m .: 1st run men‘s single
11.30 a.m .: Final run men’s single, followed by a flower ceremony
1.30 p.m .: team competition, followed by a flower ceremony