Demonstration of power by the luge legends Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) on Saturday at the FIL Luge World Cup on natural track in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA). In the fifth race they celebrated their first win of the season, it is their 66th World Cup victory.

Fist victory of the season for Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA)

Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (FIL/28.01.2023) Patrick Pigneter announced it two weeks ago at the World Cup in Jaufental/Val Giovo (ITA): "We have to focus more on the doubles and work harder again." No sooner said than done. On Saturday, the veterans set a big exclamation point in the first run with a superior best time, in the second run they brought their lead safely to the finish on the "Pföslriep"-track. They celebrated their first win of the season in 1:57.72 minutes, ahead of their teammates Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA/+0.42 seconds). Third place for the young Slovaks Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer, it’s their fist podium in the World Cup.

“We have now found the right setup for the luge, which has brought us a big step forward. We are particularly pleased with this victory, because there were voices talking of a changing of the guard,” Pigneter said.

(from left) Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA), Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) and Dominik Neupauer/Peter Neupauer (SVK)

In the overall standings, Lambacher/Lambacher (485 points) are leading ahead of Pigneter/Clara (440) and the Junior World Champions Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (240). The slovenians are competing this weekend at the finale of the Junior World Cup in Umhausen (AUT).

The race was overshadowed by a big crash of the local heroes Mathias Troger/Daniel Gruber (ITA), who were in third place after the first run. In the second run, the duo crashed into the wooden board when exiting the "Pfösl-S" after a driving error. Frontman Troger had to be flown to the hospital in Bolzano with the rescue helicopter "Pelikan 1". According to initial information, he suffered painful injuries to his leg.

On Sunday, in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente, the races continue in the women's and men's singles. The races will be broadcast live on the homepage of the International Luge Federation FIL at www.fil-luge.org.
 

Top 3 doubles
1. Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) 1:57.72 minutes
2. Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA) +0.42 seconds
3. Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK) +12.74 seconds

The program:
Sunday, 01/29/2023
9.30 a.m.: 1st run men’s singles
10.30 a.m.: 1st run women‘s singles 
11 a.m.: Finale men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
12 o'clock: Finale women's singles, followed by flower ceremony
2 p.m.: Award ceremonies in the finish area