The new FIL luge World Cup season on natural track starts in Winterleiten (AUT) with training on Thursday. With the eliminator (formerly the pursuer) on Sunday, the first race weekend in Styria ends with a double whammy.

Mister Winterleiten: Local hero Michael Scheikl (AUT)

Most recently, the FIL World Cup was a guest at Winterleiten in the 2020/2021 season, and there was also a double World Cup back then. In both races, local hero Michael Scheikl (AUT) won in the men's singles. The 32-year-old is one of the favorites again this year, because in the last four World Cups in Styria (Winterleiten and Mariazell), Scheikl has always been at the top of the podium, and the 2020 European Champion won six of his seven World Cups in Styria. His strongest rivals will probably be Alex Gruber (overall winner 2021/2022), Patrick Pigneter (both ITA) and the reigning world champion Thomas Kammerlander (AUT).

In the women's singles, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) is the top favourite. The serial winner has won every race in Winterleiten since 2018. The South Tyrolean currently has 37 World Cup victories in total. The only one who has been able to beat Lanthaler in recent years is her teammate Greta Pinggera (ITA). The coaches are looking forward to the performances of the "young wild ones" Lisa Walch (GER) and Riccarda Ruetz (AUT).

In doubles, the role of favorites is also clearly divided: Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) have been the measure of all things with their 65 World Cup victories for over 10 years. Their teammates Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher and the Austrians Fabian Achenrainer/Miguel Brugger play the outsider role.

The last eliminator took place in January 2021 in Passeier/Val Passiria (ITA), with Lanthaler, Kammerlander and Pigneter/Clara winning.

Program Winterleiten

Friday, December 16th
10 am: First run men
12 pm: Final run men, followed by flower & award ceremony
Saturday, Decmber 17th
10 am: First run doubles
10.30 am: First run women
11.30 am: Final run doubles, followed by flower & award ceremony
12.15 pm: Final run women, followed by flower & award ceremony
1 pm: Eliminator doubles
Sunday, December 18th
10 am: Eliminator, followed by flower & award ceremony

World Cup
December 15th-17th: Winterleiten (AUT)
December 18th: Eliminator Winterleiten (AUT)
January 6th-8th: Mariazell (AUT)
January 13th-15th: Jaufental/Val Giovo (ITA)
January 27th-29th: Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA)
February 8th-9th: Vatra Dornei (ROU)
February 17th-19th: Umhausen (AUT)