Laas (PMA) - Patrick Pigneter (ITA) and Ekatharina Lavrentyeva (RUS) are again the winners of second GRM Group Luge World Cup on Natural Track. Both defend their overall World Cup lead after the event in Laas, Italy. Warm temperatures and winds turned the World Cup event into a big challenge for the host at Laas. On Saturday Jury decided not to race and to protect the thin ice on the track and to race only one competition run for Doubles, Men’s and Ladies event on Sunday. So World Cup points were awarded after one competition run instead of two. Ladies race was won by Ekatharina Lavrentyeva in front of the Italians Evelin Lanthaler and Sara Bachmann. Lanthaler missed the win by only 6 hundredths. 19-year-old Bachmann celebrated her first World Cup podium. Italian men clinched a one-two victory at the Men’s event. Patrick Pigneter won in front of team-mate Alex Gruber. Third place went to Austria and Thomas Kammerlander. Doubles event was won by Russian Aleksandr Egorov and Petr Popov who take over the Overall World Cup lead. Second place went surprisingly to Rupert Brueggler and Tobias Angerer (AUT) who stood on World Cup podium for the first time in their career. Third place went to favourites Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara (ITA). Italians Florian Breitenberger and Carmen Planötscher and Austrian Double Christoph and Thomas Knauder won the Nations Cup. Third GRM Group Luge World Cup on Natural Track will be placed in Deutschnofen (ITA) from 9th to 11th January. STATEMENTS: Patrick Pigneter (ITA): “I‘m happy with my win at the Singles event. Me and my partner Florian Clara know at the Doubles event, that we have to work hard again to be back on first position“ Alex Gruber (ITA): „A big thanks to the organizing team. They did an awesome job this weekend to keep the track in a good shape despite of the warm winds and temperatures. I’m glad with my second place. I lost unfortunately the race at the last sector.” Thomas Kammerlander (AUT): „After a disappointing first World Cup at Kühtai it is a step in the right direction. The gap to the front runners isn’t that big and I had a major mistake in the middle-sector.” Ekatharina Lawrentjewa (RUS): „It is perfect to start the season with two World Cup wins in a row.” Evelin Lanthaler (ITA): „I was in a promising position today and missed the win only by hundredths. I’m happy and looking forward to next race in Deutschnofen.” Sara Bachmann: (ITA): „First podium in front of home crowd – perfect” Aleksandr Egorov (RUS): „Today was a good day for our Team. Win at Doubles and the Ladies event makes us very proud.“