Tatyana Ivanova underlines superiority in Sigulda

Sigulda (RWH) Tatyana Ivanova is still in a league of her own on the artificial ice track in Sigulda. A year after winning her third European Championship title on the only ice track in the Baltic states, the Russian has now won the Viessmann Luge World Cup at the same venue. Two weeks before the 48th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Winterberg (24 to 27 January 2019), the 2015 World Championship runner-up secured her 10th victory to relegate Germany’s Natalie Geisenberger to second place on the track used by the Russian national team for training. Third place went to US American Summer Britcher.

Fourth place was claimed by the Italian Andrea Vötter, the 2014 Junior World Champion, the best result of her career to date. With Kendija Aparjode from Latvia in fifth place, the top positions were claimed by five different nations. This is a rare occurrence in the women’s luge.

In the overall standings of the Viessmann Luge World Cup Geisenberger, the 2014 and 2018 Olympic Champion, now leads on 697 points ahead of her teammate Julia Taubitz (634), who finished ninth on the taxing Sigulda track. Third is Summer Britcher (485), the U23 World Champion of 2017.

Quotes

Tatyana Ivanova (RUS / three-time European Champion, World Championship runner-up in 2012 and 2015, World Championship bronze medallist in 2016)

“This was my tenth World Cup win. I didn’t think about it at all before the race. I was a little bit nervous. Before the race I said to myself, you feel at home here, you go well here. And that brought me some luck.”

Natalie Geisenberger (GER / Olympic Champion in 2014 and 2018, Team Relay Olympic Champion in 2014 and 2018, three-time World Champion)

“That was a good trial run. I’m already looking forward to the World Championships. Compared to here, at the World Championships in Winterberg you can climb up the field, but things can sometimes go in the other direction too. We’ll have to see how the track is.”

Summer Britcher (USA / U23 World Champion 2017, YOG Champion in Team Relay 2012)

“This is my first podium finish in Sigulda. Training went really well. If things go well, I really like this track, it is one of my favourites. This good result has come at exactly the right time so close to the World Championships.”