On Saturday the doubles race was scheduled at the FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track in Laas (ITA). Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev (RUS) celebrated their second win of the season on their “unofficial” home track, so the decision in the overall ranking is postponed to the final in Umhausen (AUT) in one week.

Porshnev/Lazarev showed themselves in a very good shape on the “Gafair”-track and laid the foundation for the second victory of the season  - after Winterleiten (AUT) in early January - with best time in the first run. The Russians also set the best time in the decisive second run and took the win with a total time of 2:24.12 minutes, followed by Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) on second place with 0.53 seconds behind. Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA /+ 1.49) took third position.

Porshnev/Lazarev during the winning run in Laas

In the overall ranking, the gap between the leaders Pigneter/Clara (570 points) to Porshnev/Lazarev (485) has melted to 85 points, so the decision about the crystal globe will be made at the World Cup final in Umhausen (AUT) on February 15th.

“We have trained a lot on this track over the years because we spend a lot of time here in Laas in winter. This is an advantage, especially for the doubles. Now we want to win at the final in Umhausen, where we have been successful five times. Pigneter/Clara have a very big lead in the overall ranking, but we are not giving up, ”said Ivan Lazarev after the race in Laas.

“The track is great, but we lack practice here because there are very few competitions in Laas. For the Russians this is the "home track" and they performed really well. We are satisfied and want to get our 11th globe for the overall win in Umhausen, ”explained Patrick Pigneter.

Podium doubles (from left) Clara/Pigneter, Lazarev/Porshnev and Lambacher/Lambacher

On Sunday, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) can prematurely become  the overall winner in the women’s single, while in the men’s single four athletes are fighting for the overall victory.

Program for Sunday, February 9th, 2020 

9.00 a.m. 1st competition run - women's single 
9.45 a.m. 1st competition run - men's single 
11.00 a.m. Final run - women's single 
followed by flower ceremony for women 
11.45 a.m. Final run - men's single 
afterwards flower ceremony men 
1.00 p.m. Awards Ceremony for doubles, women and men
1 p.m. award ceremony doubles, women's single, men's single