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The FIL Natural Track Luge World Cup kicks off the 2024/2025 World Championship season with a double World Cup event in Winterleiten (AUT). The first two races are scheduled for Saturday, 21st, and Sunday, 22nd December.

Michael Scheikl Sieg Winterleiten

Local hero Michael Scheikl (AUT) celebrated five out of eight victories in Winterleiten

Winterleiten (FIL, 18/12/2024) The new World Cup winter begins where the previous season ended with an exhilarating finale. Veteran Patrick Pigneter (ITA) narrowly triumphed over his young teammate Fabian Brunner (+0.03 seconds). In the women’s singles, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) proved unbeatable, securing victory with a 1.72-second lead over Riccarda Ruetz (AUT). In the doubles, Matthias Lambacher/Peter Lambacher (ITA) completed the Italian team’s triumph, finishing ahead of local heroes Maximilian Pichler/Nico Edlinger (AUT).

On the 940-metre-long natural track in the Styrian Zirbenland, another thrilling generational showdown is expected this weekend between superstars Lanthaler and Pigneter and the "young wild ones" like Ruetz and Lisa Walch (GER) as well as Brunner and company. The double World Cup in Winterleiten also serves as an initial indicator for the upcoming 25th FIL Natural Track Luge World Championships in January 2025 in Kühtai (AUT).

"The track in Winterleiten is challenging but also an ideal venue for the World Cup opener. Particularly for the FIL Group nations, it’s beneficial that an international training week is held in Winterleiten right before the World Cup," emphasised Andreas Castiglioni, FIL Director of Sport and Technology.

Schedule

Friday, 20/12/2024

  • 9:00 am: Nation training, women’s and men’s singles
  • 10:30 am: Nation training, women’s and men’s singles
  • 12:30 pm: Nation training, doubles

Saturday, 21/12/2024

  • 9:00 am: Doubles competition run, followed by flower ceremony
  • 9:30 am: 1st competition run, women’s singles
  • 10:00 am: 1st competition run, men’s singles
  • 11:00 am: Final run, women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
  • 11:45 am: Final run, men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony and awards ceremony for doubles, women’s singles, and men’s singles

Sunday, 22/12/2024

  • 9:00 am: Doubles competition run, followed by flower ceremony
  • 9:30 am: 1st competition run, women’s singles
  • 10:00 am: 1st competition run, men’s singles
  • 11:00 am: Final run, women’s singles, followed by flower ceremony
  • 11:45 am: Final run, men’s singles, followed by flower ceremony and awards ceremony for doubles, women’s singles, and men’s singles