There are two new winners in the FIL World Cup in natural track luge. Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA) in the doubles and Fabian Brunner (ITA) in the men's singles made their maiden win in the World Cup on Saturday at Winterleiten.
Maiden world cup victroy for Paur/Hofer (ITA)
Winterleiten (FIL/17/02/2024) The newly crowned Junior World Champions in doubles, Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer, are currently on fire. One week after their gold medal, the „Azzurri“ celebrated their first World Cup victory on the 940-metre natural luge track in 1:07.09 minutes, ahead of Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA/+0.27 seconds) and Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK/+0.63). "This is indescribable, we simply feel strong on this track. A week ago we were Junior World Champions here, now we've won a World Cup race, that sounds really cool," explained Paur in the winner's interview.
Podium doubles (from left): Peter Lambacher/Matthias Lambacher (ITA), Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA) and Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK)
Lambacher/Lambacher lead the overall standings with 555 points ahead of local heroes Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (485 points) and Paur/Hofer (410). If Lambacher/Lambacher finish on the podium in the World Cup finale on Sunday, their first overall victory will be in the books.
Next victory for Evelin Lanthaler (ITA)
In the women's singles, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) has won the overall standings with one race to go. With her sixth win of the season, Lanthaler has an unassailable lead of 600 points, followed by Riccarda Ruetz (AUT/485 points) and Tina Unterberger (AUT/347). With best time in both runs, Lanthaler celebrated her 50th World Cup victory in 2:08.04 minutes, ahead of Ruetz (+1.09 seconds) and Unterberger (+1.58). "My big goal for the season was to win the overall World Cup, which I managed to do," said Lanthaler, who was faster than all the men in this race.
Podium women's singles (from left): Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) and Tina Unterberger (AUT)
Fabian Brunner (ITA), on the other hand, celebrated his maiden World Cup victory. The 2022 Junior World Champion showed a strong run in training on Friday and topped the World Cup podium for the first time after setting the fastest time in both runs in 2:08.22 minutes, ahead of Florian Clara (ITA/+0.56 seconds) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA/+0.76).
Maiden world cup victory for Fabian Brunner (ITA)
"I already had a good feeling in training. I managed two very good runs in the race and it's just great that it was enough for my first World Cup victory," said Brunner, who has now climbed to third place in the overall standings with 394 points, behind Florian Clara (399). Pigneter has secured his 12th overall victory in the men’s singles one race to go, ending a seven-year drought and allowing him to race freely in the finale on Sunday.
Podium men's singles (from left): Florian Clara (ITA), Fabian Brunner (ITA) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA)
Top 3 doubles, Winterleiten 2024 World Cup
1st Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA), 1:07.09 minutes
2nd Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA), +0.27 seconds
3rd Peter Neupauer/Dominik Neupauer (SVK), +0.63
Top 3 women's single-seater, World Cup Winterleiten 2024
1st Evelin Lanthaler (ITA), 2.08,04 minutes
2nd Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), +1.09 seconds
3rd Tina Unterberger (AUT), +1.58
Top 3 single seater men, World Cup Winterleiten 2024
1st Fabian Brunner (ITA), 2.08,22 minutes
2nd Florian Clara (ITA), +0.56 seconds
3rd Patrick Pigneter (ITA), +0.76 seconds
The program
Sunday, 18.02.2024
9 a.m.: Competition run doubles, followed by flower ceremony
9.30 a.m.: 1st competition run women’s singles
10 a.m.: 1st competition run men’s singles
11 a.m.: Final run women's singles, followed by flower ceremony
11.45 am: Final run men's singles, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremony for doubles, women's singles and men's singles
