Preview 4th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup, Sigulda (LAT): Sporty start to the new year in Sigulda

Sigulda (FIL/01 Jan 2025) After the first three World Cups and the well-deserved Christmas holidays, the best lugers will start the new year in a sporty way this weekend. The 4th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup will be held on the bobsleigh and luge track in Sigulda (LAT) from January 3 to 5, 2025. A total of 111 sleds from 19 nations have registered for the World Cup, with 35 women and 45 men competing in the singles and 11 women's and 20 men's doubles. In addition to the World Cup races, the second of five team relays as part of the EBERSPAECHER Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW is on the program on Sunday.

After the German festival at the start of the season in Lillehammer (NOR), the Austrians dominated the World Cup action in Innsbruck (AUT) and Oberhof (GER). Most recently, they won both individual disciplines, the women's doubles and the team relay in Thuringia. It is yet to be seen whether the Austrians will continue to triumph or whether there will be a Latvian festival on the technically demanding track in front of a home crowd at the start of the year. In the previous season, two World Cups and a Sprint World Cup were held in Sigulda. While Elina Ieva Bota and Kristers Aparjods each claimed a victory and other podium finishes in the singles, Martins Bots and Roberts Plume were at the top three times in the men's doubles.

Taubitz, Gleirscher, Degenhardt/Rosenthal and Eggert/Müller lead the overall World Cup standings

After three of nine World Cup races in the World Championship winter, it is worth taking a first look at the overall World Cup standings. Julia Taubitz (GER) and Nico Gleirscher (AUT) as well as the German doubles Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal and Toni Eggert and Florian Müller lead the World Cup standings at the start of the year.

Eggert/Müller in particular can be more than satisfied with their start to the season. Following the spectacular comeback of eleven-time world champion Toni Eggert, both are racing their first season together in the doubles and have so far achieved one victory, one second place and one fifth place. They lead with 240 points ahead of Bots/Plume (LAT, 231 p.) and Steu/Kindl (AUT, 210 p.). Only Julia Taubitz got off to an even better start on the ice track. The 28-year-old German won the season opener in Lillehammer and finished on the podium in all three races. She leads the rankings with 255 points ahead of the two Austrians Madeleine Egle (246 points) and Lisa Schulte (225 points).

In the men's event, three Austrians - Nico Gleirscher (231 p.), Jonas Müller (227 p.) and Wolfgang Kindl (205 p.) - are at the top of the overall standings, closely followed by defending champion Max Langenhan (GER, 201 p.) and Felix Loch (GER, 175 p.). In the women's doubles, Degenhardt/Rosenthal are in the lead with 255 points after three second places, closely followed by Egle/Kipp (AUT, 250 p.) and Forgan/Kirkby (USA, 225 p.).

Innsbruck Team Relay World Cup will not be rescheduled

The first EBERSPAECHER Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW in Innsbruck (AUT), which had to be cancelled at short notice on Sunday, 8 December 2024 due to technical challenges, will due to scheduling difficulties not be rescheduled. This means that only five instead of six EBERSPÄCHER Team Relay World Cups presented by BMW will be held this season. The grand finale of the Team Relay Series will take place on 23 February 2025 in Yanqing, China. The five EBERSPAECHER Team Relay World Cups of the 2024/2025 season at a glance: 15.12.2024 – Oberhof (GER), 05.01.2025 – Sigulda (LAT), 12.01.2025 – Altenberg (GER), 19.01.2025 – Winterberg (GER), 23.02.2025 – Yanqing (CHN).

National Champions in the World Cup part 2

The national teams from Austria and Italy held their national championships in the Olympic ice track in Innsbruck-Igls (AUT) between Christmas and New Year. Sandra Robatscher, Dominik Fischnaller, Andrea Vötter/Marion Oberhofer and Ivan Nagler/Fabian Malleier triumphed in the exciting races of the Italian championships on December 27, 2024. Klaus Kofler, Italy's head coach, was satisfied: “After the Christmas break, our athletes were all looking forward to being able to luge again. We used the training in Igls and the races at the Italian Championships to test and refine a few things. Now we hope to get off to a good start in Sigulda.”

At the Austrian National Championships on December 28, 2024, Selina Egle and Lara Kipp and Yannick Müller and Armin Frauscher secured the national doubles title. The Vorarlberg and his Tyrolean teammate impressed with two best times in their first victory, winning both runs. In the men's singles, defending champion Jonas Müller and Wolfgang Kindl fought a thrilling duel, which Mueller was able to decide in his favor after two runs. It was the third title in the general class for him. “We have an extremely strong men's team, so a national championship title is not a sure thing. I should have done better at the start in the first run, but my performance on the track was once again spot on,” said the 2023 world champion Jonas Müller, pleased with his performance. Madeleine Egle won the women's singles event for the fifth time in her career, with Lisa Schulte finishing second. Dorothea Schwarz took bronze at the Austrian national championships.

The Latvian Cup also took place in Sigulda on December 28, 2024. Kristers Aparjods confidently defended his title in the men's event with best times in both runs. Gint Berziņs came second ahead of Kaspars Rinks. Kendija Aparjode once again won the women's Latvian Cup 2024 ahead of Elina Ieva Bota and Zane Kaluma. While last year's third-placed Marta Robezniece/Kitija Bogdanova won the women's doubles ahead of Anda Upite/Zane Kaluma, Martins Bots/Roberts Plum triumphed again in the men's doubles ahead of Eduard Shevic-Mikkelszewitz/Gustav Babris. “The Latvian Cup confirmed the upward trend and makes us very optimistic before the World Cup in Sigulda,” said a delighted Daniels Fogelis, coach of the Latvian national team. “Kristers Aparjods showed runs that were close to the track record. Kendija Aparjode and the doubles also did very well. There was a change in the men's doubles: Eduards Ševics-Mikeļševics started with Gustavs Babris, as Lucas Krasts had to recover from an injury he sustained at the start of the season.”

Schedule 4. EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup, Sigulda (LAT):
Local start time (CET/MEZ)

Friday, January 3, 2025

11:00 (10:00) Nations Cup
14:30 (13:30) Training Seeded group

Saturday, January 4, 2025

10:40 (09:40) Women’s Doubles, 1st run
11:10 (10:10) Men’s Doubles, 1st run

12:20 (11:20) Women’s Doubles, 2nd run
12:50 (11:50) Men’s Doubles, 2nd run

13:50 (12:50) Women’s Singles, 1st run
15:15 (14:15) Women’s Singles, 2nd run

Sunday, January 5, 2025

11:10 (10:10) Men’s Singles, 1st run12:35 (11:35) Men’s Singles, 2nd run

14:00 (13:00) Team Relay

Subject to change without notice!