Natalie Geisenberger, Wolfgang Kindl and Steu/Koller claim victory in the BMW Sprint World Cup

Innsbruck-Igls (RWH): Natalie Geisenberger (GER), Wolfgang Kindl and Thomas Steu/Lorenz Koller (all AUT) have won their opening races in the BMW Sprint World Cup season. In addition to Innsbruck-Igls (AUT), two more BMW Sprint World Cup races are scheduled for the post-Olympic season: one race in Lake Placid (USA) on 16 December 2018 and a season finale in Sochi (24 February 2019).

In the women’s event on the Olympic ice track in Igls, the previous day's winner Natalie Geisenberger of Germany pushed her team-mates Julia Taubitz and Dajana Eitberger back into second and third place to secure her 45th World Cup success. Fourth place went to US athlete Summer Britcher.

In the overall rankings for the Viessmann World Cup, Natalie Geisenberger, the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Champion, leads the pack with a perfect score of 200 points. Julia Taubitz is in second place with 170 points ahead of the second race of the season in Whistler (CAN) on Friday (30 November) and Saturday (1 December).

Saturday’s winners Thomas Steu/Lorenz Koller were able to repeat their success in the sprint event. The duo, who finished fourth in the Olympics, secured the top spot ahead of Russia's Vladislav Yuzhakov/Iurii Prokhorov. Third place went to Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER), the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Champions. Steu/Koller are leading the overall standings with a perfect score of 200 points.

In the men’s event, Wolfgang Kindl – who became Sprint World Champion in Igls in 2017 – finished in first ahead of Russia’s Aleksandr Gorbatcevich and Felix Loch (GER). Securing the top spot also meant that Kindl was able to climb to first place in the overall standings with 175 points.