Sandra Robatscher, Jozef Ninis, Robezniece/Bogdanova and Kellogg/Ike fastest at Nations Cup in Innsbruck

Innsbruck (FIL/12 Jan 2024) On Friday, January 12, the luge world witnessed exciting competitions at the FIL Nations Cup on the 1976 Olympic track in Innsbruck-Igls. The outstanding athletes of the day were Sandra Robatscher from Italy, Jozef Ninis from Slovakia as well as the doubles Marta Robezniece and Kitija Bogdanova from Latvia and Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike from the USA.

Men's singles: Ninis triumphs

42-year-old Jozef Ninis from Slovakia won the men's race. With a time of 50.255 seconds, he narrowly beat the competition consisting of Gints Berzins from Latvia (+0.023) and Andriy Mandziy from Ukraine (+0.071). Ninis, who finished seventh at the 2023 European Championships in Sigulda, was delighted: "I'm happy with my run today, but not with the start. I put on two kilos over the Christmas holidays and of course I notice it at the start. It's fun to race here. The track is in very good shape, the ice conditions are excellent. The goal for the World Cup on Sunday is to get a faster start and then have two runs with as few mistakes as possible. I also want to be as fast as possible for the team in the team relay. The 21-year-old winner of the 2020 Youth Olympic Games, Gints Berzins, finished two hundredths of a second behind the veteran Ninis and said: "I really like the track in Igls. But there's still a lot to improve before the World Cup on Sunday".

Women's singles: Robatscher dominates

With an impressive run Sandra Robatscher from South Tyrol (ITA) secured the first place in the women's singles. With a time of 39.972 seconds she left local hero Barbara Allmaier (AUT/+0.074) and her team-mate Verena Hofer (+0.080) behind on the podium. "I really enjoy competing, it gives me something and that's why I see the Nations Cups as a good opportunity to build up a bit of competitive pressure. It's nice to win a Nations Cup, but of course I'd rather be at the top of the World Cup. But that's hardly possible at the moment with my starting performances. That's why I will give everything tomorrow at the World Cup, but I can't expect any miracles", the winner from South Tyrol analyzed her Nations Cup victory in Igls.

Doubles: Latvian women and US men impress

Women's doubles is the newest discipline in the Luge World Cup. It will be on the program for the first time at the Olympic Winter Games in February 2026. The Nations Cup on January 12, 2024 in Innsbruck-Igls was won by the young Latvians Marta Robezniece and Kitija Bogdanova with a time of 40.246 seconds ahead of their teammates, the newly formed duo Anda Upite with Zane Kaluma (+0.038) and the local heroes Lisa Zimmermann and Dorothea Schwarz (+0.130).

Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike (USA) won the Men's Nations Cup with a time of 39.701 seconds.  The young Latvians Raimonds Baltgalvis and Vitalijs Jegorovs finished second (+0.128) followed by Moritz Jäger and Valentin Steudte (GER /+0.161). „It always feels good, winning a race. And if it‘s not on your home track, it feels even better”, explained Dana Kellogg and his backdriver Frank Ike said: “At this fast ice conditions today here in Igls we stayed relaxed on the sled and put a clean run down. This could be the key to success.” But his frontdriver added with a smile: “I think it was the energy drink in the morning.”

Nations Cup and outlook for the EBERSPAECHER World Cup

The Nations Cup, traditionally held the day before the first World Cup race, offered athletes the opportunity to qualify for the EBERSPAECHER World Cup final. The fastest 18 single-seaters and the first twelve doubles secured starting places for the final. The best twelve sleds in each category automatically qualify for the World Cup.

The luge world is eagerly awaiting the 4th EBERSPAECHER World Cup and the 55th FIL European Championships race-in-race, which will take place on Saturday, January 13 and Sunday, January 14 in the Olympic ice track in Igls.

The detailed results and further information are available at the following link: fil-luge.org/en/results/eberspaecher-world-cup-32

Schedule 4th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup, Innsbruck-Igls (AUT) &

55th FIL European Championships

Local start time (CET/MEZ)

Saturday, January 13, 2024

09:00 am Women, 1st run
10:30 am Women, 2nd run

11:55 am Men's doubles, 1st heat
12:43 Women's doubles, 1st heat

13:40 Men's doubles, 2nd heat
14:32 Women's doubles, 2nd heat

Sunday, January 14, 2024

10:00 am Men, 1st heat
11:30 am Men, 2nd heat

13:30 Team relay

All information is without guarantee!