Record chase on the Oberhof ice track: Degenhardt/Rosenthal let off steam

6th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup and 57th FIL European Championships in Oberhof

Oberhof (FIL/18 Jan 2026) The women's doubles delivered a real record chase in the EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup. In the first run, Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal started their first run in the Oberhof ice channel with a time of 7.567 seconds. The two Germans thus improved on the start record set by Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer (Italy; 7.567) last year. At the end of the 946-meter run, they crossed the light barrier in 42.004 seconds – a track record. Selina Egle and Lara Kipp, the previous record holders with a time of 42.060 seconds, were not willing to let that stand. The Austrians countered, clocking in at 41.984 seconds in the second run, the first time anyone had broken the 42-second barrier. What did Degenhardt/Rosenthal do? They smashed the record again with a time of 41.952 seconds. “We were fully focused on the track record,” said Degenhardt, “we were sitting at the top of the start and heard that Selina and Lara had stolen the track record from us. So I said to myself: ‘We can't let that happen.’ Then we gave it our all again.” They were gnawed by their failure to qualify for the Olympic Games. However, the European championship title is only a small consolation.

Degenhardt/Rosenthal achieved their third victory of the season in 1:23.956 minutes. Egle/Kipp were 0.181 seconds behind the winners. “The two of them were unbeatable today,” said Egle, acknowledging the Germans' success without envy. However, the Austrians were satisfied that they were able to beat Dajana Eitberger/Magdalena Matschina, the two German Olympic starters. “It's always very close and exciting between us,” said Kipp, “and we're happy every time we can beat them.” Eitberger/Matschina finished 0.332 seconds behind Degenhardt/Rosenthal.

Because the young German duo Elisa-Marie Storch/Pauline Patz missed the exit from turn 13 in the second run and had to skate a few meters on only one blade, the US duo Chevonne Forghan/Sophia Kirkby came in fourth, 0.689 seconds behind Storch/Patz (1.029). They were followed by the Latvians Anda Upite and Madara Pavlova (1.054).

At least in the U23 European Championship standings, Stroch/Patz retained the lead ahead of Marta Robezniece/Kitija Bogdanova (Latvia) and the Slovakians Viktoria Praxova and Desana Spitzova.