South Tyrolean lugers dominate at 31st Gitschberg Start Cup in Maranza

Maranza (FIL/27 Aug 2025) On Saturday, August 24, the traditional international Gitschberg Start Cup for artificial track luge athletes took place in Maranza for the 31st time. With impressive performances, the athletes from South Tyrol took the lead on the short artificial track, which consists of two curves (in both directions).

Among the 61 sleds from four nations (ITA, AUT, SVK, GER), it was the South Tyrolean athletes who impressed with their fast starts. Verena Hofer and Alex Gufler took the victory for the Italian national team after three runs. Hofer's teammates Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer completed the podium in the women's singles, while Leon Felderer (ITA) and Marian Skupek (SVK) finished second and third in the men's singles.

In the doubles, Nadja Falkensteiner and Annalena Huber won the women's event and Ivan Nagler and Fabian Malleier - all from South Tyrol - won the men's event.

South Tyroleans also proved their strength in the junior category: Alexandra Oberstolz was the fastest female junior starter, beating the Tyrolean sisters Marie and Lina Riedl. Manuel Weissensteiner won the men's race ahead of his compatriots Leon Haselrieder and Philipp Brunner.

The junior doubles competition was also dominated by South Tyrolean athletes. Alexandra Oberstolz and Katharina Kofler won the women's event and Philipp Brunner and Manuel Weissensteiner won the junior men's doubles category.

With these successes, the Italian national team underline their ambitions for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina and start the pre-Olympic season with a strong tailwind.

Photos: Josef Plaickner