The Italian Fabian Brunner (ITA) is the man of the hour in the FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track. The 17-year-old celebrated his second victory in the second race at Winterleiten (AUT). In the women’s single there was a double victory for Germany.

Fabian Brunner began the new season with a double victory: after the opening win on Tuesday, the Italian also won the second race of the season on Wednesday. And again it was a hundredth of a second thriller. After the first run Brunner was in second place, just 0.03 seconds behind the half-time leader Daniel Gruber (ITA). In the decisive second run, Brunner set the best time, with a total time of 2:03.48 minutes he took the lead. Gruber also showed a flawless ride, but in the end the 18 year old was 0.01 seconds slower than Brunner, who celebrated his second victory in the second race. Third place for the Austrian Miguel Brugger, 0.87 seconds back.

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

Lisa Walch and Sarah Schiller celebrated a double victory for Germany in the junior women’s single. Junior World Champion Walch repeated her victory from the previous day in 2:06:27 minutes and with the best time in both runs, Sarah Schiller finished second, 1.44 seconds behind. Third place went to Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), 1.64 seconds behind. Ruetz and Schiller also stood on the podium in second and third place on Tuesday.

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

Local heroes Maximilian Pichler/Peter Dominik Maier (AUT) stroke  back in the doubles. After finishing second on Tuesday, the Austrians gained their first win of the season in 1:06.48 minutes on Wednesday, 0.92 seconds ahead of Tuesday's winners Anton Gruber Genetti/Hannes Unterholzner (ITA). As on Tuesday, third place for the Slovenes Bine Mekina/Blaz Mekina (+1.60 seconds).

(from left) Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner (ITA), Pichler/Maier (AUT) and Mekina/Mekina (SLO)

In the overall standings, after two races, Fabian Brunner (ITA) and Lisa Walch (GER) lead with a maximum of 200 points, in the doubles Gruber Genetti/Unterholzner (ITA) and Pichler/Maier (AUT) share first place with 170 points each.

The FIL Luge Junior World Cup on natural track continues on Sunday, January 10th, 2021, with the third stage in Umhausen (AUT).