Nations Cup victories for Elina Ieva Vitola, Arturs Darznieks and Geueke / Gamm in Sigulda (LAT)

Sigulda (FIL) Latvia, Russia, Germany and Austria take the podium places in the FIL Nations Cup on the only artificial ice track in the Baltic region. Elina Ieva Vitola, Arturs Darznieks and the doubles' team Robin Geueke / David Gamm were the fastest on Friday, January 7, 2022 in Sigulda, Latvia.

In the best ice conditions, minus two degrees and sunshine, 21-year-old Latvian Elina Ieva Vitola won at home in Sigulda ahead of 30-year-old Russian Tatyana Ivanova in her comeback after breaking her foot at the opening event of the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup in Yanqing, China. Vitola won with a run time of 42.353 seconds ahead of Ivanova (+0.018) and Vitola's teammate, 21-year-old local Sigita Berzina (+0.108), who was on the podium for the first time in the Nations Cup. Winner Vitola said after the race: "It feels good to start a race weekend with a win. I am definitely aiming for a podium finish in the World Cup race on my home track on Sunday. But for that I have to start optimally twice and luge perfectly. That is the big goal for Sunday."

The 16-time World Cup winner and winner of last year's European Championships and World Cup in Sigulda, Tatyana Ivanova is still struggling with problems in her foot: "It was just a small comeback today. I still had problems at the start. The start time was too bad and with bib number 28 it is difficult to go faster. I have to go to the hospital again today, I had another MRI done because I still have problems with my foot. I hope it will be better on Sunday!"

Dajana Eitberger from Germany did not compete in the Nations Cup after a training crash the day before in Sigulda. She travelled home and decided to end the Olympic season early. The Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic silver medallist will celebrate her 31st birthday on Friday, 7 January.

In the men's event, there was a one-two finish for the home team. The 28-year-old soldier Arturs Darznieks from Sigulda won in 48.350 seconds ahead of his 27-year-old teammate Riks Kristens Rozitis (LAT/+0.041) and the 32-year-old Austrian Reinhard Egger (+0.068). The policeman from Tyrol had slided to bronze again, just like last year.

Local hero Darznieks was happy about his Nations Cup victory: "I am happy about this place at the moment. This was the best run of the week. Tomorrow will hopefully also be much better then in the training. Of course it is very important to get some more points for the Olympic qualification".

In the Nations Cup of the doubles, Robin Geueke and David Gamm were the fastest in 42.393 seconds. The two Germans had also won the Nations Cup a week ago at home in Winterberg. The Russian duo Stanislav Maltcev and Dmitrii Khalilov came in second (+0.090) ahead of their teammates Vsevolod Kashkin and Konstantin Korshunov in third (+0.102). Robin Geueke praised the Latvian track workers: "The track here in Sigulda is again in excellent condition. At the start it is generally very difficult for the doubles, but we are really very satisfied with the race today. Now it just has to work out like that twice more tomorrow."

Athletes qualify for the EBERSPÄCHER World Cup on Saturday and Sunday via the Nations Cup, which is run in one heat. The fastest twelve female athletes and doubles as well as the fastest 15 men of the last three World Cup races are seeded and do not have to go to the Nations Cup for qualification. For them, there will be the training of the seeded group on Friday, 7 January from 14.30 hrs local time as the last run before the World Cup on the artificial track in Sigulda, Latvia.

Detailed results and further information about the 7th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup and of course also about the Nations Cup can be found under the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/eberspaecher-weltcup-14

For the 3rd BMW Sprint World Cup you can find all information here: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/bmw-sprint-weltcup-20

On Saturday, January 8, 2022, the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup will start with the men's singles from 10.10 a.m. (Latvian local time / CET+1).

All World Cup races can be followed on the Olympic Channel Livestream at: https://olympics.com/en/sport-events/2022-luge-eberspacher-world-cup-sigulda/

TV times can be found on the FIL website under the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/eberspaecher-weltcup-14