Miss European Champion: Ivanova wins her fifth title in singles

Sigulda (FIL): Tatyana Ivanova has defended her title as European Champion. At the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup in Sigulda, which was also held as 52nd FIL European Championships, the 29-year-old Russian won her second race this season. Second went to Germany's Natalie Geisenberger ahead of Viktoriia Demchenko (RUS). The fifth European individual title for Ivanova was her 15th success in a World Cup race. "Somehow I am always good at European Championships," Ivanova said.

The old and new title holder was also pleased that Demchenko, a compatriot, was standing next to her. The 25-year-old shouted overjoyed from the podium towards team members, "This medal is for our doctor." She later commented, "He was sad yesterday because the guys and the doubles didn't have a chance to win a medal." Ivanova also had a message to her team close to her heart: "A big thank you to our coaches, the mechanics, the federation and everyone who supports us."

The women had put on an exciting race. After the first run, four-time Olympic champion Geisenberger was still leading by five thousandths of a second ahead of Ivanova. But after a not so explosive start she lost time in the second run. In the end she was 0.052 seconds behind. The 32-year-old from Miesbach took it calmly. It was her eighth second place in the eighth race this season. "When I saw the 2 at the finish, I laughed and said to myself: well, then I've achieved my goal after all," she said.

Behind the three riders on the podium, Julia Taubitz (GER) finished fourth ahead of three Latvians Elina Ieva Vitola, Eliza Tiruma and Ulla Zirne. The fourth Latvian Kendija Aparjode had fallen in the first run after a driving mistake.

Twice the start record was improved in the second run: First Andrea Vötter (Italy) set a new best in 1.610 seconds, then Madeleine Egle (Austria) went through the light barrier at the start already after 1.607 seconds.
The classification of the U23 European Championships was won by the young Latvian Elina Ieva Vitola ahead of Madeleine Egle from Austria and Yulianna Tunytska from Ukraine.

In the overall World Cup, the German women lugers dominate. Geisenberger is still in the lead, having 680 points. She is followed by Taubitz (651) and Dajana Eitberger (479). Egle is the best non-German athlete in fourth place with 436 points, followed by Ivanova (428).

The detailed results of the 6th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup in Sigulda (LAT) can be found using the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-world-cup-4

Results of the 52nd FIL Luge European Championships and the U23 European Championships 2021 in Sigulda (LAT) can be found here: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/fil-european-championships-9