Three Golds: Italy sweeps the board at the European Championships
Hosts dominate the 31st FIL Alpine Luge European Championships in Laas/Lasa
The Alpine Luge European Championships were held on Sunday in Laas/Lasa (ITA). All three gold medals went to the host nation.
Laas/Lasa (FIL/25 January 2026) – She came, she saw, she conquered: 16-year-old Nina Castiglioni (ITA) claimed the gold medal at her very first senior championships. Setting the fastest time in both runs, she kept her composure despite heavy snowfall on the natural track “Gafair” to win in 2:08.59 minutes, ahead of three-time World Cup season winner Riccarda Ruetz (AUT, +0.40 seconds) and Lisa Walch (GER, +1.10). The bronze medal for the 24-year-old Walch is the first-ever European Championship medal in Alpine Luge for the German Bobsleigh and Luge Association.
Nina Castiglioni (ITA) on the way to the gold medal
“Before the second run I was a little nervous at the start. I put together two great runs and, to be honest, I’m speechless,” said Nina Castiglioni through tears. “I gave it everything, the conditions were not easy. There was nothing more in it for me today – Nina was simply better,” said reigning and newly crowned European vice-champion Riccarda Ruetz with great sportsmanship. Ruetz now turns her full focus to the remaining three World Cup races, where she leads the overall standings ahead of Walch and Castiglioni. “I’m absolutely delighted with the bronze medal, even though my second run didn’t go quite as I’d hoped,” Walch said after the race.
(from left) Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Nina Castiglioni (ITA) and Lisa Walch (GER)
Italian clean sweep in the men’s singles
In the men’s singles, local hero Daniel Gruber (ITA) secured his first major title. The reigning vice world champion laid the foundations for success with a clear fastest time in the first run on his home track. With a combined time of 2:07.39 minutes, he claimed his first European title, ahead of his team-mates Alex Oberhofer (ITA, +0.67 seconds) and Fabian Brunner (ITA, +0.90).
(from left) Alex Oberhofer (ITA), Daniel Gruber (ITA) and Fabian Brunner (ITA)
“During the power cut in the second run I got more and more nervous, so I simply grabbed a broom and helped the track crew clear the fresh snow. That took my mind off things. My first run was great, the second was solid. I’m relieved that it worked out with the gold medal,” said a delighted Gruber at the finish, also highlighting the strong teamwork and positive atmosphere within the squad. “I’m proud of my first European Championship medal. Of course I wanted gold, but Daniel is currently extremely strong in all conditions – I couldn’t match him,” said Oberhofer. “After the first run I was pretty annoyed, nothing went right. The fastest time in the second run was the key to the bronze medal,” explained a happy Brunner, who had only been sixth at the intermediate ranking after run one.
Daniel Gruber (ITA) on his hometrack
World champions strike back
In the doubles, reigning world champions Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) once again dug deep into their bag of tricks. After a disappointing training session on Saturday, they swapped positions on the luge once more: Peter moved to the front, with Matthias taking the rear position. After lying third at the first intermediate time, the leaders of the World Cup standings gathered momentum and, with a time of 1:08.34 minutes, secured their first European Championship title.
Peter Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA): European champions 2026
“This title was still missing from our collection. It was hard work, but we’re incredibly happy,” said Peter Lambacher, celebrating his first European gold, while Matthias Lambacher had already claimed the European title in 2020 with his older brother Patrick as the front rider. Defending champions Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) did not get the final section quite right, losing more than 0.30 seconds over the last 15 seconds to Lambacher/Lambacher and had to settle for silver, ahead of Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA, +0.50 seconds).
“Our feelings are mixed: on the one hand we’re happy with the silver medal, on the other it’s obviously disappointing that we couldn’t defend our title,” said Pichler, who will now focus with Nico Edlinger on the upcoming World Cup races. “Third place at the European Championships is fine. Lambacher/Lambacher and Pichler/Edlinger are strong competitors. Hopefully we can give them a hard time now and again in the World Cup,” said Andreas Hofer, issuing a challenge to the new European champions and runners-up.
(from left) Nico Edlinger/Maximilian Pichler (AUT), Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) and Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA)
The FIL Alpine Luge World Cup continues from 5 to 7 February in Umhausen (AUT) with the classic World Cup and the Eliminator.
Top 3 – Women’s Singles
1. Nina Castiglioni (ITA), 2:08.59 minutes
2. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), +0.40 seconds
3. Lisa Walch (GER), +1.10 seconds
Top 3 – Men’s Singles
1. Daniel Gruber (ITA), 2:07.39 minutes
2. Alex Oberhofer (ITA), +0.67 seconds
3. Fabian Brunner (ITA), +0.90 seconds
Top 3 – Doubles
1. Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA), 1:08.34 minutes
2. Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT), +0.35 seconds
3. Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA), +0.50 seconds
Medal Table – 31st Alpine Luge European Championships 2026
1. Italy – 3/1/2
2. Austria – 0/2/0
3. Germany – 0/0/1
