Merle Fräbel narrowly missed out on the second individual victory of her career at the World Cup in Sigulda (Latvia). The doubles team with Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt celebrated its first World Cup victory in more than a year.
On Saturday (January 4th, 2025), Fräbel only had to admit defeat to local hero Elina Bota, who was 0.064 seconds faster. The Austrian Lisa Schulte came third (+0.065 seconds), who is the new leader in the overall World Cup. At halftime, Fräbel was still in fifth place, but was able to gain position after position with a strong drive.
Julia Taubitz, who had been leading in the overall ranking to date, had all the aces in her hand for a long time, but made a serious mistake in the second run as the penultimate starter and was pushed through to ninth place (+0.216). The five-time world champion also ended up behind Anna Berreiter, who fell from sixth to eighth place (+0.182). Melina Fabienne Fischer was 15th (+0.723).
Fräbel shines – Taubitz fails
Taubitz initially kept her chance for her second win of the season with a strong first run. Their gap to Bota, who was already leading at half time, was easily made up by 0.046 seconds. In addition, Madeleine Egle, the supposedly strongest opponent, had already left the competition after a serious mistake at the start. The Austrian had won the last two World Cup races.
The exclamation mark in the second run was Fräbel, who showed a strong performance, especially in the lower section. Taubitz, on the other hand, made a mistake when she hit an exit too late and slid into the barrier. This meant that any hopes of a top placement for the 28-year-old were gone. But Fräbel was also denied the big surprise because Bota saved her lead despite not making a mistake-free journey to the finish.
“It was quite up and down“said Fräbel after her first podium finish this season.”In the second run I did even better than in the first. That’s where you see what you can achieve.“
First win of the season for Wendl/Arlt
In contrast, the German doubles team with Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt celebrated their first World Cup victory this winter in Sigulda. The six-time Olympic champions prevailed by 0.101 seconds ahead of local heroes Martins Bots/Roberts Plume and Yannick Müller/Armin Frauscher from Austria (+0.292 seconds), it was their first World Cup success since mid-December 2023.
After a mixed start to the season, Wendl/Arlt also made it onto the podium in the fourth race of the season for the second time in a row. “This is how you can start the new year“said Wendl in the Sportschau interview.”We had a good feeling this week. We really had a lot of fun.“
Record world champions Toni Eggert and Florian Müller had to give up their lead in the overall World Cup to Bots/Plume. The new duo missed out on the top three in fifth place (+0.461 seconds) for the second time in a row.
Wendl/Arlt withstand pressure
Wendl/Arlt had high hopes for their first win of the season after the first run. The five-time overall World Cup winners had carved out a narrow lead of 0.029 seconds over Müller/Frauscher.
The Latvian Bots/Plume in third place were also still within striking distance (+0.076) and were able to temporarily take the lead in the second run with a strong run. Wendl/Arlt were under pressure, but delivered right from the start. First with the best start time in the second run, then with a flawless run in the ice track.
Orlamünder/Gubitz only in 14th place
Hannes Orlamünder and Paul Gubitz finished the race in a disappointing 14th place. After the duo celebrated their first World Cup victory in Oberhof in December, this time nothing came together, especially in the first run. As a result of a serious driving error in the upper part of the route, Orlamünder/Gubitz lost control, took two gangs in a row and lost a lot of speed.
Degenhardt/Rosenthal make a mistake and lose yellow
The German luge pair Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal had previously missed the podium for the first time this season and lost the overall lead. Selina Egle and Lara Kipp won and took yellow. The Austrians celebrated their third World Cup victory in a row on the artificial track.
The top German duo had to settle for sixth place after a weak first round. Second place went to Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby (USA/+0.116 seconds), third place went to Latvia’s Marta Robezniece and Kitija Bogdanova (+0.411).
German duo builds a podium
After the first run, Degenhardt/Rosenthal were already in sixth place, a huge gap (+0.730 seconds) to the leaders Egle/Kipp. Despite a significant increase in performance, they were unable to improve their ranking in the second round.
The German former world champions have to continue to wait for their first win of the season. At the three previous World Cup stops they had shone with consistency and finished second in each case.
Eitberger/Matschina fall again
The competition was even more disappointing for Dajana Eitberger. Together with Magdalena Matschina, the former individual world champion lost control of the sled on the fast track after a promising start in turn 13 and slid a few meters headfirst down the ice track. Matschina lost her helmet visor in the fall.
The duo was able to get up on their own afterwards and was apparently spared any serious injuries, but the competition was still over early for them. Eitberger and Matschina had already fallen at the start of the World Cup in Lillehammer.