Next weekend the FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track will go on in Deutschnofen (ITA). The fourth stage in the 2019/2020 season is „the classic“ in the FIL Luge World Cup on Natural Track.

One week after the World Cup in Vatra Dornei (ROU) the situation could not be more exciting. Four men are fighting for the leadership in the overall World Cup standing, all four are within just 10 points. With his latest back-to-back victory  World Champion Alex Gruber (ITA) is in the lead with 320 points, followed by the two Austrians Michael Scheikl and Thomas Kammerlander (both 315) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA / 310). Pigneter has not yet had a win of the season, but unlike his competitors, he was on the podium in every race of this season. Last year Alex Gruber celebrated his fifth win in a row on the "Pfösl-Riep" track, on Sunday Gruber wants to continue his impressive winning streak in Deutschnofen.

Five in row for Alex Gruber in Deutschnofen 2019

For the women, the Italian Greta Pinggera celebrated in Romania her first World Cup victory since 2018 in Deutschnofen, so the 24-year-old is fully motivated for the race on her 785 meters long favorite track. Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) is the defending champion in Deutschnofen, the leader of the World Cup standing wants to return on top of the podium after finishing second in Vatra Dornei.

The local heroes Patrick Pigneter / Florian Clara are the favorites on the home-track, the World Cup leaders in the doubles prevailed last year by over a second against the Russians Pavel Porshnev / Ivan Lazarev.

The second team competition of the season will also be held in Deutschnofen: At the opening in Winterleiten (AUT) Austria won ahead of Russia and Germany.

On Friday, January 24th, the training runs are scheduled, followed by the doubles and women’s competition on Saturday from 10 a.m. and on Sunday the men's race (9 a.m.)and team competition (1 p.m.) will follow.