The 37th Junior European Championships in natural track luge in Mariazell (AUT) started with a victory for the favourites. In the doubles race, Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) celebrated an unchallenged victory – the overall winners in the Junior World Cup also successfully defended their title.

(from left) Andreas Hofer/Tobias Paur (ITA), Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA) and Vid Kralj/Matevz Vertelj (SLO)

Mariazell (FIL/February 4th, 2023) Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzer felt right at home on the 947 meter long "Sigmundsberg"-track. After an impressive best time in training (1:19.76 minutes) the defending champions improved in the race and fixed the gold medal with a time of 1:18.93 minutes. Silver medal for their teammates Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (+1.02 seconds), ahead of the Junior World Champions from Slovenia, Matevz Vertelj/Vid Kralj (+1.62 seconds).

Second gold medal for Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner (ITA) at Juniors European Championships

“Defending the title feels good, that was our goal. The season went great, after winning the overall ranking we have now also won the gold medal,” explained Gruber Genetti at the finish. “Our run wasn't perfect, we hit a bump in a hairpin turn and we brushed against the barrier. This mistake cost a lot of time, but the fact that we were still able to win shows that we are in a very good shape actually,” said Unterholzner.

"We were able to improve on the training, that's positive. However, even more would have been possible, especially in the middle section. Nevertheless, we are happy about silver”, analyzed Paur/Hofer after their first medal in title fights. After all, in the first and last sector of the track, the Vice Junior European Champions set the fastest time.

“The finish-S is difficult to drive and we messed it up. On the one hand this mistake annoys us, on the other hand we are of course happy with the bronze medal,” said Vertelj/Kralj.

On Sunday, at the 37th Junior European Championships in Mariazell, the medal decisions in the women's singles and in the men's singles are on the program, as well as the team competition.

The program of the 37th FIL Junior European Championships Mariazellerland 2023
Sunday February 5th
9.30 a.m.: Nations training women’s singles and men’s singles 
11 a.m.: Men’s singles and men’s singles race
1 p.m.: Team competition, followed by award ceremonies