The new season of the FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track began with the first race on the Winterleiten (AUT) on Tuesday. At the beginning there was a four-fold victory for Italy in the junior singles. Lisa Walch (GER) prevailed in the women’s singles, while Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) won the doubles.

On the 940 meter long Winterleiten-track in Styria the young guns from Italy showed a thrilling competition for the day's win. After the first run Fabian Brunner (ITA) and Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) were in first place at the same time. Daniel Gruber (ITA) and Anton Gruber Genetti (ITA) followed in third place at the same time. In the decisive second run, Brunner had the second best time to win the day. With a total time of 2.03.83 minutes, the 17-year-old was 0.31 seconds ahead of Unterholzner and 0.36 seconds on Gruber, who secured third place with the best time in the second run, ahead of Gruber Genetti (+1.10 seconds) . The best non-Italian is Miguel Brugger (AUT) in fifth place, 1.94 seconds behind the winner.

(from left) Hannes Unterholzner (ITA), Fabian Brunner (ITA) and Daniel Gruber (ITA)

Lisa Walch (GER) celebrated an undisputed first victory in the juniors women. The reigning junior World Champion set the fastest time in both runs and clearly won in 2.05.80 minutes ahead of Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), who was 0.97 seconds behind Walch at the finish. Sarah Schiller (GER) secured third place, 1.06 seconds behind the winner.

(from left) Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Lisa Walch (GER) and Sarah Schiller (GER)

In doubles, the day's victory went to the Italians Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner in 1:06.63 minutes, just ahead of the local heroes Maximilian Pichler/Dominik Peter Maier (AUT / + 0.25 seconds). Third place went to the brothers Bine Mekina/Blaz Mekina (SLO), 1.26 seconds behind.

(from left) Pichler/Maier (AUT), Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner (ITA) and Mekina/Mekina (SLO)

At the start of the FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track, a total of 40 boys and 30 girls from 12 nations competed in perfect conditions; eight sledges from seven nations took part in the double-seater.

The second competition in the FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track is on the program on Wednesday at Winterleiten.