A warm weather front over the Russian capital Moscow sets the organizers of the 28th FIL Luge EuropeanChampionships on Natural Track under pressure and mixed up the schedule.

On Thursday morning at 8 a.m. FIL sports director Andreas Castiglioni and his team stood on the "sparrow-hill"- track on the banks of the Moskva river to get an idea of the dramatic situation. By the beginning of the week, the track was in a race-ready condition with a 20 centimeter thick ice layer. But a warm front with 24 hours of rain and then plus degrees around the clock really damaged the track. A forerunner was also sent twice on the shortened track to see how the ice reacts to the stress of a luge athlete.

A forerunner testing the track beginning from turn 1

“The chances of a race are 20 percent,” said Castiglioni after the four-hour inspection on Thursday, “but we really try everything so that we can have the Championships. The organizers had worked really well, otherwise nothing would be possible when struggling with such temperatures. So at least we have a small chance. However, a final cancellation is still possible because the thaw will continue in the next few days ”.

A total of approximately 60 athletes from 14 nations are competing in the 28th FIL Luge European Championships on Natural Track in Moscow.

Defending Champions are Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), Thomas Kammerlander (AUT), Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara (ITA) and Team Austria.

The new program*
Friday, February 21st, 2020
8.00 a.m. (GMT + 3): 1st practice run women’s single
Followed by: 1st practice run men’s single
Followed by: 1st competition run women’s single
Followed by: 1st competition run men’s single

Saturday, February 22nd, 2020
8.00 a.m .: 1st practice run doubles
followed by: 1st competition run doubles
followed by: Team competition

* Subject to change at short notice