A home victory for Michael Scheikl (AUT) at the start of the 2024/2025 FIL Natural Track Luge World Cup. At the season opener in Winterleiten (AUT) on Saturday, the Styrian was in a class of his own.

Michael Scheikl setting the new track record

Winterleiten (FIL, 21/12/2024): With the fastest times in both runs (1:59.35 minutes) and a new track record (59.57 seconds), Michael Scheikl celebrated his ninth World Cup win, marking his sixth victory in Winterleiten. Except for Laas/Lasa (ITA) in 2020, the 35-year-old has secured all his World Cup victories in Styria. "I worked very hard during the summer, trained a lot. The equipment was excellent today, and I’m overwhelmed. This is a perfect start to the World Championship winter," said the veteran, adding, "I’m enjoying the moment; tomorrow the cards will be reshuffled." Alex Oberhofer (ITA, +0.75 seconds) reached the podium for the first time. The overall winner of the 2023/2024 Junior World Cup narrowly edged out teammate Fabian Brunner (+0.76), who had been in second place after the first run. It was a disastrous day for the 2023/2024 overall World Cup champion, Patrick Pigneter (ITA). The experienced luge athlete went off the track in both runs, losing significant time and finishing 25th.

Triple Victory for the "Azzurre"

Serial winner Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) also began the season with a win and a new track record (1:00.13 minutes). With a total time of 2:01.71 minutes, she secured her 52nd World Cup victory ahead of Daniela Mittermair (ITA, +0.70 seconds) and Nadine Staffler (ITA, +0.82). "My goal was to start the new season well. The first run was really strong, and in the second run, I played it a bit safer," Lanthaler analysed at the finish.

Home Victory in the Doubles as Well

In the doubles event, the home favourites led the way. The reigning European champions Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) set a new track record of 1:04.26 minutes. "We felt really good today; our form is spot on," Pichler explained. On Sunday, they will compete for the first time as World Cup leaders. For Pichler/Edlinger, it’s their second World Cup victory following Umhausen 2024. Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA, +0.84 seconds) and last year’s overall winners, Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA, +1.54), finished second and third.

New track recordfor Pichler/Edlinger in the doubles 

A total of 40 men's singles, 22 women's singles, and 11 doubles from 13 nations participated.

Top 3 Men’s Singles (21/12/2024)
1.    Michael Scheikl (AUT) – 1:59.35 minutes
2.    Alex Oberhofer (ITA) – +0.75 seconds
3.    Fabian Brunner (ITA) – +0.76

Top 3 Women’s Singles (21/12/2024)
1.    Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) – 2:01.71 minutes
2.    Daniela Mittermair (ITA) – +0.70 seconds
3.    Nadine Staffler (ITA) – +0.82

Top 3 Doubles (21/12/2024)
1.    Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT) – 1:04.26 minutes
2.    Tobias Paur/Andreas Hofer (ITA) – +0.84 seconds
3.    Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) – +1.54

Programme
Sunday, 22/12/2024
•    9:00 AM: Doubles run, followed by flower ceremony
•    9:30 AM: 1st run Women’s Singles
•    10:00 AM: 1st run Men’s Singles
•    11:00 AM: Final Women’s Singles run, followed by flower ceremony
•    11:45 AM: Final Men’s Singles run, followed by flower ceremony and award ceremonies for Doubles, Women’s Singles, and Men’s Singles