DEUTSCHNOFEN/NOVA PONENTE. On Sunday, January 28th 2018, the fifth GRM Group Luge World Cup 2017/2018 at the Pföslriep track in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente (ITA) found an end with the final runs of the women and the men as well as with the team competition.

“I just had a great day,” Greta Pinggera (ITA), the winner of the women’s event, was happy after the race. The reigning World Champion, who had also won last year’s World Cup race in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente, finished with a time of 1:51.35 minutes and therefore was 42 hundredths faster than her teammate Evelin Lanthaler, who ranked second. “I feel comfortable on this track, it suits me, and I know that I can be fast here. That’s why I’m so confident here in Deutschnofen, and you need confidence if you want to compete on such a high level,” said the Italian, who was able to shorten the gap to the leading Lanthaler in the overall standings and therefore kept the title race open. Lanthaler was also quite satisfied with the outcome of the race – especially, because she was able to eventually outpace Ekaterina Lavrentyeva (RUS) in the final run. “I made a few little mistakes in the upper area of the track, but all in all I’m happy. It was important for me to rank second here,” explained Lanthaler, who is still in the best position in the battle for the overall World Cup. “Of course, I’d be happy if I could reclaim the title. However, I’m not putting myself under pressure, I just want to give all I have in the last race. May the best athlete win.”

The podium in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente was completed by Lavrentyeva, who had ranked second after the first competition run and eventually lost one rank. “Today it didn’t run very well for me, I made a few mistakes. Nevertheless, I’m happy with my performance,” said the Russian, who still has the chance to reach the podium of the overall World Cup at the finals in Umhausen (AUT).

At the men’s event, Alex Gruber (ITA) triumphed once again: The reigning World Champion had a time of 1:48.67 minutes and won the World Cup race in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente for the fourth time in a row. For obvious reasons, the Italian was in a good mood after the race: “It’s always great to win here, the atmosphere is fantastic,” said Gruber, who had been the fastest athlete in both competition runs. “I delivered two very good runs and made no mistakes. The track suits me, I know it inside out.” Patrick Pigneter (ITA), who ranked second at the Pföslriep track, also had to admit that Gruber was the best athlete on this day: “Alex is in a league of his own in Deutschnofen, he goes to the limit every time,” said the Italian, who came in 66 hundredths behind Gruber. “I, for one, might have been a bit too cautious this weekend. At the moment, I’m lacking the calmness and the aggressiveness I once had. But I’ve given everything here and can be content with the results.”

Thomas Kammerlander (AUT), who came in third in Deutschnofen/Nova Ponente, was satisfied, too: “The third rank is exactly what I had hoped for. I never expected to win here, because it’s always difficult for us Austrians on this track,” explained the title defender, who is still in the lead ahead of Gruber and Pigneter in the overall standings and therefore has the best chances to win the World Cup trophy at the finals on his home track in Umhausen.

At the team competition, the Italian squad with Greta Pinggera, Alex Gruber and Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara was victorious. The Austrian team with Tina Unterberger, Thomas Kammerlander and Rupert Brüggler/Tobias Angerer came in second, while the Russian team, consisting of Ekaterina Lavrentyeva, Gregori Bukin and Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev, ranked third.

The final event of the GRM Group Luge World Cup 2017/2018 will take place from February 15th–17th 2018 in Umhausen (AUT), where the overall winners of the season will finally be determined. Before that, there are two other highlights for the lugers on natural track: the 11th FIL Junior World Championships from February 2nd–4th in Laas/Lasa (ITA) and the 27th FIL European Championships from February 9th–11th in Obdach-Winterleiten (AUT).

Results:
http://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/grm-group-luge-world-cup-on-natural-track-9

Photos:
https://fil-luge.smugmug.com/20172018/World-Cup-Deutschnofen-1718/