The third stage of the FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track started on Saturday in Vatra Dornei (ROU) with the two doubles competition runs. On the 2017 World Championships track in the Carpathians, Italy had a one-two victory.

The experienced Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) showed their skills in the first run and took the lead, ahead of the Russians Aleksandr Egorov/Petr Popov and Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA). In the decisive second run, Lambacher/Lambacher had an excellent run, the Russians Egorov/Popov could not replace the young Italians from the top. Pigneter/Clara increased again in the final and celebrated their third win of the season with a total time of 1:47.63 minutes, clearly ahead of Lambacher/ Lambacher (+0.79) and Egorov/Popov (+1.09).

(left to right) Lambacher/Lambacher, Pigneter/Clara and Popov/Egorov

Florian Clara: “We knew at the start that Lambacher/Lambacher were in the lead, which really pushed us. We showed two good runs with almost no mistakes. ”
Patrick Pigneter: “The track here in Vatra Dornei is technically demanding and the conditions are difficult. Nobody can practice here during the season. But that is the same for everyone. Therefor I am all pleased that we connected today to our performance one week ago in Passeiertal“.

Even on the way up to the start Pigneter/Clara were followed by Lambacher/Lambacher

With the third victory in a row, Pigneter/Clara have now extended their lead in the overall World Cup standing with 385 points. The winners of the opening in Winterleiten, Porshnev/Lazarev and the Italians Lambacher/Lambacher following in second place with 300 points each.

On Sunday in Vatra Dornei the two competition runs in the single-seater men and women are on the program.