Junior World Champion Lisa Walch (GER) and the Italian Fabian Brunner remain unbeaten in the FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track. At the third stage on Sunday in Umhausen (AUT) both celebrated their third win of the season.

The Tyrolean Lisa Walch, who competes for Germany, showed her supreme class on the technically demanding „Grantau“-track in Umhausen. With  best time in both runs the 19-year-old celebrated her third win of the season in a sovereign manner with a time of 2:31.24 minutes. Local hero Riccarda Ruetz (+2.70 seconds) and Sarah Schiller (GER /+ 4.20) follow in the places of honor. In the overall standings, Walch leads with a maximum of 300 points, followed by Ruetz (240) and Schiller (225).

(from left) Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Lisa Walch (GER) and Sarah Schiller (GER)

In the men's singles Daniel Gruber (ITA) was in the lead after the first run, followed by his team-mate Fabian Brunner, 0.21 seconds behind. In the decision, Brunner showed a dream run and took the lead with a total time of 2:28.58 minutes. Half-time leader Gruber had to take full risk, drove too narrow a line in the last section, touched the inner board in a corner and ended up in second place 0.97 seconds behind. Third place for Miguel Brugger (AUT/+ 1.15). With three wins after three races, Brunner is clearly leading the overall standings with 300 points.

(from left) Daniel Gruber (ITA), Fabian Brunner (ITA) and Miguel Brugger (AUT)

In doubles, the Italians Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner won in 1:20.40 minutes, followed closely by the Slovenes Bine Mekina/Blaz Mekina (+0.56 seconds). After two third places it is the best result of the season so far for the brothers. Alex Oberhofer/Andreas Hofer (ITA/+ 0.99) finished third. With their second win of the season, Gruber Genetti /Unterholzner have taken the sole lead in the overall standings with 285 points, Maximilian Pichler/Dominik Peter Maier (AUT) are second after fourth position in Umhausen with 245 points, followed by Mekina/Mekina with 225 points.

The next stop in the Junior World Cup is Jaufental (ITA). The World Cup final is on the program there on January 31st, before the season comes to an end on February 1st with the FIL Junior European Championship on the “Tonnerboden”-track.