Sigita Berzina, Grancagnolo and DiGregorio/Hollander fastest at Nations Cup in Altenberg
Altenberg (FIL/02 Feb 2024) One week after the 52nd FIL World Championships, the fifth FIL Nations Cup 2023/24 took place in the SachsenEnergie Eiskanal in Altenberg. Highlights of the competition were the victories of Sigita Berzina (LAT), Timon Grancagnolo (GER) and the doubles Zachary Di Gregorio/Sean Hollander (USA).
The 23-year-old Latvian luge athlete Sigita Berzina impressed on the technically demanding track in Altenberg with her first Nations Cup victory and second podium finish after Sigulda 2023. With a time of 52.964 seconds in slightly above freezing temperatures and dry weather. Berzina beated Melina Fischer (GER/+0.059 seconds) and Nina Zoeggeler (ITA/+0.152 seconds). "My race today was really good, much better than at the World Championships last week. I'm happy to have won my first Nations Cup and I'm looking forward to the World Cup race on Sunday," said Sigita Berzina.
The men's race was won by 20-year-old Timon Grancagnoglo from Germany with a time of 54.327 seconds. The student from Chemnitz was beaming with joy at his first Nations Cup victory. "Of course I became U23 World Champion here last weekend. But it's also great to start the World Cup weekend on my home track with a Nations Cup victory," said the young Saxon, who finished third at the 2020 Youth Olympic Winter Games. His team-mate David Nössler from Thuringia was 37 thousandths of a second behind and Alex Gufler (ITA) from South Tyrol was 74 thousandths of a second behind.
Zachary Di Gregorio and Sean Hollander of the USA were the fastest in the doubles’ competition with a time of 41.875 seconds. Last year's U23 World Champions won ahead of their team-mates Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike (+0.175) and Slovakia's Tomas Vavercak and Matej Zmij (+0.267). "We've had an incredibly tough week here in Altenberg and it means a lot to get this Nations Cup win here today," said Sean Hollander, and his front driver added: "After our World Cup win in Lake Placid at the beginning, it's been a very tough season for us. We're happy with our run today in the Nations Cup here in Altenberg and we'll see what we can do tomorrow in the World Cup. Then we'll focus on the rest of the World Cup season.”
Detailed results and more information about the 5th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup 2023/2024 in Altenberg are available at: fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-world-cup-30
Schedule 5th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup, Altenberg (GER)
Local start time (CET/MEZ)
Friday, February 02, 2024
14:30 Training seeded group
Saturday, February 03, 2024
08:45 Men's Doubles, 1st run
09:55 Men's Doubles 2nd Run
11:15 Men, 1st heat
12:55 Men, 2nd heat
14:30 Women's Doubles 1st heat
15:30 Women's doubles 2nd heat
Sunday, February 04, 2024
08:25 Ladies, 1st heat
09:50 Ladies, 2nd heat
12:00 Team Relay
All times are subject to change!
The World Cup races can be followed live on YouTube on Saturday and Sunday at the following link: www.youtube.com/@FILLuge_Channel
(In Germany, Austria and Latvia there will be partial geo-blogging due to live TV coverage).
