Preview 6th EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup and 56th FIL European Championships in Winterberg (GER):
Battle for European Championship medals and world cup points at Sauerland
Winterberg (FIL/15 Jan 2025) When the luge elite competes at the VELTINS EisArena in Winterberg (GER) this weekend, it won't just be for World Cup points. In addition to the 6th EBERSPAECHER World Cup, the 56th FIL European Championships will also be held in the so-called race-in-race mode on January 18 and 19. Non-European nations take part in the World Cup, but will not be ranked for the European Championships.
A total of 157 athletes, 118 sleds from 21 nations have registered for the World Cup, with 35 women's and 44 men's singles as well as 16 women's and 23 men's doubles. In addition, the fourth of five team relays as part of the EBERSPAECHER Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW is on the program on Sunday.
In addition to World Cup points, the European Championship titles will also be contested this weekend. At last year's European Championships in Innsbruck-Igls (AUT), the Austrians impressed on their home track and won all titles except for the women's doubles. Madeleine Egle triumphed in the women's event ahead of the two Germans Julia Taubitz and Anna Berreiter. Jonas Müller won the men's event ahead of team-mate Nico Gleirscher and Max Langenhan (GER). In the men's doubles, Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl (AUT) decided the race in their favor ahead of the Latvians Martins Bots/Roberts Plume and the Germans Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER). In the women's doubles, Germany's Jessica Degenhardt/Cheyenne Rosenthal took the gold medal, silver went to the Italian duo Andrea Vötter/Marion Oberhofer and bronze to Latvia's Marta Robezniece/Kitija Bogdanova. Finally, Austria also won the prestigious team relay ahead of Germany and Italy.
Based on the results of the current season, it looks like a duel between Germany and Austria, but the Latvians, Team USA and the Italian team, who have always done very well in Winterberg, also want to have a say in the medals.
Geisenberger, Pavlichenko, Wendl/Arlt and Vötter/Oberhofer lead the European Championships
Six-time Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger (GER), who ended her long career in 2023, leads the all-time European Championship statistics with five European Championship titles and three bronze medals, ahead of Tatyana Ivanova (RUS), who is once again ineligible to compete this season, with five European Championship titles and two silver and bronze medals each. Defending champion Madelene Egle (AUT) follows in 15th place among the currently active female athletes with one title and one silver medal.
In the men's singles, the European Championship leader is Semen Pavlichenko from Russia. The former world champion has won four times and won a silver medal at the European Championships. Felix Loch (GER) has won three times, two silver and two bronze medals, and Dominik Fischnaller (ITA) has one European Championship title and two bronze medals so far.
Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (GER) lead the European Championship rankings in the men's doubles with four gold, six silver and two bronze medals, ahead of their former teammates Eggert/Benecken with four titles and two silver and one bronze medal. Toni Eggert is now competing again with Florian Mueller. In the women's doubles the Italians Andrea Vötter/Marion Oberhofer lead the ranking with one gold and one silver medal, ahead of Jessica Degenhardt/Cheyenne Rosenthal with on gold and one bronze medal.
The complete European Championship statistics can be found here: Statistics of the International Luge Federation FIL (fil-luge.org)
Quotes before World Cup Winterberg (GER):
Madeleine Egle (AUT): “I finally managed to get two good runs down in Altenberg, especially after last week I'm very happy that it went well again. I was struggling with a headache during the week and had to miss a few training runs. Thank God I managed to get both runs down and thanks to the coaches. The set-up of the equipment was great, I felt very comfortable. Winterberg has always been really cool. The start is always a big question mark because it's a pretty nasty start corner. But I'm really looking forward to the World Cup and the European Championships there.”
Anna Berreiter (GER): “I delivered a good race in Altenberg and was able to improve from the training. It's the first time this season that I'm really happy with what I've achieved. It can go on like this. I became German champion in Winterberg this year. The prospects are quite good. I hope the weather is right and we have a good track. I have to pull a lot at the start and then we'll see what we can do.”
Selina Egle (AUT): “Four wins in a row, that's crazy, it feels great. The speed on the track is tremendous, we're relaxed and very consistent, we've improved a bit at the start compared to last year. This is what we have to take with us to the European Championships in Winterberg and all the other races.”
Lara Kipp (AUT): "We worked very hard on the key sections in Altenberg, especially on curve nine in the training runs. To win here again after last year's World Championship title is incredible. Now we are looking forward to Winterberg and would like to continue our winning streak.”
Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER): “I'm looking forward to the European Championships and the World Cup on my home track. I like Winterberg and I really enjoy racing there. Jessica's family was at the track last week in Altenberg to cheer us on, this time it's my family. And we'll give everything again.”
Marta Robezniece (LAT): “I hope for two solid runs and do our best. We like the track, but we always had trouble with the ninth. We really want to fix that first and see what happens.“
Chevonne Forgan (USA): “When there is good weather, we really like Winterberg. That`s what we are hoping for. We have had some troubles in Winterberg in the past, it`s always up and down. We hope for a good week of training and two clean runs on race day.“
Yannick Müller (AUT): “The ice track in Altenberg hasn't really been one of our favorite tracks to date. We've had quite a few problems here in the past, but this time we were able to master the key sections well, especially the start turn and turn nine. We are absolutely satisfied, delighted with our second podium finish in a row and will definitely go for it again in Winterberg.”
Tobias Wendl (GER): “I looked at the weather forecast and there should be sunshine in Winterberg on Saturday and Sunday without clouds! I'm very excited! We are looking forward to it and hope that the track will be good. We were quite fast at the qualifying in the fall and had a lot of fun. We hope and wish that it will be like that again this time, and then anything is possible.”
Marcus Mueller (USA): “We don`t have a lot of expections, since we have not been in Winterberg in a few years. We were only juniors when we have been there last, so it will be a new start height for us. Weh ave seen a lot of trouble in the start corner in the past. So we are super excited to see how we handle it. It is definitely a new challenge for us.“
Roberts Plume (LAT): “Winterberg really depends on the weather. It is the most important part. If the weather will be good, we like the track. If we get a so called weather race, we don`t like it. They are not fair. We hope the track will be good and we are looking forward to it. Our two wins in Altenberg were great, but honestly, a bit unexpected. We did a great job, we managed the track well and it showed how hard we had worked all week long. The goal is, of course, to repeat it this weekend.“
Jonas Müller (AUT: “We reach speeds of around 130 km/h, have no run-off zones and no protection apart from a helmet. That's the risk you take in our sport, so it's all the more important to stay in control. If you're not confident in yourself and start thinking, it can be extremely dangerous. I've tried to learn the track in Altenberg over the last few years and we also trained here in the fall during pre-season preparation. However, I couldn't completely ignore the fear of a crash and a serious injury here. The risk of injury on this track is simply too high for me, especially as the highlights of the season are still to come with the European Championships in Winterberg and the World Championships in Whistler.” (Müller explaining why he didn`t start at the World Cup in Altenberg)
Max Langenhan (GER): “The race in Altenberg varied. I turned twice at the top at the end, made quite a few mistakes, but the speed was just right at the bottom this time. That was of course very positive, as was the fact that I was able to stand on the podium with Felix again. Now it's time for the European Championships in Winterberg. Winterberg has always gone very well in the last two years, I've won there twice. This year will be a different story. The Austrians are very strong. They were already strong last season and almost unbeatable this season. That's why I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out. I hope we can take the flow with us and get off to a good start at the top. It's getting a bit spring-like again in Winterberg, so it could be an exciting race.”
Felix Loch (GER): “There were difficult conditions in Altenberg, with the wind and snow, but they were actually two good runs. In terms of racing, everything went well. I'm a bit unhappy with the start times. It went quite well in training, but in the race I always missed one or two hundredths - for whatever reason. I'm mega happy with the result, we'll just keep going. It was of course good for my self-confidence ahead of the next two World Cups, also with regards to the World Championships in Whistler. I'm hoping for good weather in Winterberg, I have to laugh myself, because I usually slide in Winterberg in very bad conditions. It's looking good at the moment and I'd be happy if it stays that way. We'll attack at full speed and can definitely keep up with the leaders if everything goes well.”
Leon Felderer (ITA): “Winterberg suits us better. We're hoping for an Italian festival. [laughs] Winterberg suits me very well, it's more of a gliding track. I definitely prefer the gliding tracks to the tracks where you have to work, so I'm already looking forward to the European Championships.
Zintis Šaicāns (National coach Team Latvia): “Winterberg is a very interesting and at the same time difficult track. I hope the weather as well as the track conditions will be great. The start turn from all starting heights is important, and you must stay 100% focused along the entire track. The Latvian national team will be ready for this challenge. We have a very strong coaching staff and dedicated athletes who are ready to win. We will not look out for a miracle. Our coaches together with the athletes will analyze the track and adopt the right solutions for the sled configuration. Then we will be ready to fight for podium’s in all disciplines.“
Schedule & TV coverage
6. EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup, Winterberg (GER) & 56. FIL-European Championships
Local start time (CET/MEZ)
Friday, January 17, 2025
11:00 Nations Cup
14:30 Training Seeded group
Saturday, January 18, 2025
10:30 Men’s Doubles, 1st run
11:15 Women’s Doubles, 1st run
12:30 Men’s Doubles, 2nd run
13:05 Women’s Doubles, 2nd run
14:00 Women’s Singles, 1st run
15:20 Women’s Singles, 2nd run
Sunday, January 19, 2025
09:25 Men’s Singles, 1st run
10:45 Men’s Singles, 2nd run
12:30 Team Relay
Subject to change without notice!
Live TV-Broadcast: fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-world-cup-40
Link to ECH-results: fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/56th-fil-european-championships
