Deutschnofen (PMA) - Deutschnofen, Italy was the host of the 3rd GRM Group Luge World Cup on Natural Track. The “Pfösl-Riep” is one of the favourites of World’s best luge athlete Patrick Pigneter (ITA). He won six World Cups and three World Championships at the South Tyrolean luge track. He was unbeaten until this World Cup weekend. Three Italians were in the lead after first competition run and there were only six hundredths between first and third place. Alex Gruber, Anton Blasbichler and Patrick Pigneter retained their lead after second run. Gruber was celebrating his second World Cup win. Golden oldie Anton Blasbichler finished second and Pigneter finished third. Pigneter is leading in Overall World Cup after three of six events. Austrian Thomas Kammerlander crashed in first run but left the track on his own feet. He went to medical examination at Innsbruck. His team mate Michael Scheikl finished on fourth place. Ladies race was won by Ekaterina Lavrentyeva. She won in front of Italians Evelin Lanthaler, Sara Bachmann and Greta Pinggera. It was World Cup win number three this season for the Russian. Fifth place went to Austria and Tina Unterberger. Lavrentyeva is leading in Overall World Cup with maximum points. STATEMENTS: Ekaterina Lavrentyeva (RUS): „My victory is a little bit surprising because I was feeling sick this week. I had two perfect runs and I really like the track at Deutschnofen.“ Sara Bachmann (ITA): „So far Laas and Deutschnofen were not my favourite tracks. I think I fell in love with my home tracks now”. Evelin Lanthaler (ITA): „I had some mistakes in first competition run. Second run was okay and I could keep up the pace of Lavrentyeva. If she makes no mistakes it is difficult to beat her”. Patrick Pigneter (ITA): “The defeat hurts today. Maybe it is the right incentive for World Championships“. Anton Blasbichler (ITA): „When the conditions change so fast as it happened in Deutschnofen experience matters. At my age everything is so much routine.” Alex Gruber (ITA): „Sensational. I can’t describe the feeling winning in front of my home crowd. It was a tough battle between team mates today “.