All eyes on the final in the FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track in Umhausen (AUT). After the first competition run on Friday evening Michael Scheikl (AUT) is in the lead in front of his team-mate Thomas Kammerlander (AUT).

Styrian Michael Scheikl confirmed his impressive form with the best time in the first run on the challenging "Grantau"-track in Umhausen. In 1:13.52 minutes he was 0.05 seconds faster than World Cup leader Thomas Kammerlander, while Patrick Pigneter (ITA) is in third place with a gap of 0.23 seconds. If Kammerlander defends second place in the decisive second run on Saturday evening, then the local hero is going to win the overall World Cup for the fourth time in a row.

Leader Michael Scheikl during first run

"It was not easy to drive, the mild temperatures made the ice on the track softer than usual. I was able to adapt the material perfectly to the new conditions and hope that I can also perform well on Saturday," said Michael Scheikl.

“Five hundredths of a second behind on this track are nothing, therefor on Saturday the race starts again at zero. However, even 23 hundredths ahead of Patrick Pigneter is nothing. It’s an open game”, analyzed Thomas Kammerlander.

"The situation couldn't be better. The gap to the leaders is close, I can take full risk. Scheikl is under pressure and Kammerlander has to defend second place, everything is possible”, said Patrick Pigneter.

In women’s single Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) showed an impressive performance and in 1:14.73 minutes she in the leading position after the first run, followed by Greta Pinggera (ITA/+ 0.94) and Tina Unterberger (AUT/+1.31) and Ekaterina Lavrenteva (RUS/+1.32). One week ago in Laas (ITA) Evelin Lanthaler fixed her fourth win of the overall World Cup. Pinggera and Unterberger in an close competition for second place.

Evelin Lanthaler is the overall champion 2020

A big match is going on in the doubles: Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev set the best time in the first run in 1:17.53 minutes, 0.33 seconds ahead of World Cup leaders Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA). On third place Patrick Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA/+0,66).

Porshnev/Lazarev heading the third victory of the season

Program Saturday, February 15th 2020
3:00 p.m final run doubles
followed by flower ceremony doubles
4:00 p.m. final run women 
followed by flower ceremony woman 
4:45 p.m. final run men 
followed by flower ceremony men 
6:15 p.m Team competition 
followed by flower ceremony team 
7:00 p.m. award ceremony women, men, doubles, team 
8:30 p.m. award ceremony overall ranking women, men, doubles, team 
followed by After-Race-Party in the pavilion with DJ Mista T