KÜHTAI What an incredible start of the Luge World Cup on Natural Track 2018/19! At the „Sonnenhang“ in Kühtai (AUT) for Saturday was scheduled the first run in the doubles, as well as the training runs for women, men and doubles.

In the doubles' race an exciting second run will be expected on Sunday, because there are two leaders after the first run. World Champion Rupert Brüggler / Tobias Angerer (AUT) and defending champion Patrick Pigneter / Florian Clara (ITA) share the first place. Aleksandr Egorov / Petr Popov (RUS) are in third position after day 1, just 0.25 seconds behind the lead.

Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) dominated the women training runs, Lanthaler was the fastest in both runs. Alex Gruber (ITA) fixed the fasted time in the men training runs, just 0.01 seconds in front of local hero Thomas Kammerlander on second place.
 

The quotes:
Rupert Brüggler: "In the upper part of the track we drove very well, unfortunately we still have some difficulties in the last turn. Nevertheless we are very satisfied with our run. There is no better way to go into the final run on Sunday with two teams in the lead!“

Patrick Pigneter: "We struggeled all day long in the training runs. But routine helps you on a new track. The first run was okay, but we can do betterr. The final run on Sunday will be extremely exciting, because even the other teams are not far away. That's how it should be."

Andreas Castiglioni (FIL-Director Sports and Technology): "The start of the new season has gone extremely well, the atmosphere in Kühtai is simply amazing, the track is perfect. It's a temporary track, the track is new to everyone. With 395 meters it is a short track and we can see that there are extremely close decisions! "

Zeitplan – Timetable
Sonntag / Sunday, 16.12.2018 
09.45 Uhr Weltcup-Finallauf Doppelsitzer / Final run doubles anschließend Blumenzeremonie / followed by flower ceremony 
10.10 Uhr 1. Wertungslauf Damen und Herren / First run women and men 
11.40 Uhr Weltcup-Finallauf Damen / Final run women anschließend Blumenzeremonie / followed by flower ceremony 
12.05 Uhr Weltcup-Finallauf Herren / Final run men anschließend Blumenzeremonie / followed by flower ceremony 
13.30 Uhr Teambewerb / Team competition anschließend Blumenzeremonie / followed by flower ceremony 
ca. 14 Uhr Siegerehrung Nationencup und Weltcup 
Änderungen vorbehalten / Subject to change