At the Luge World Cup in St. Moritz on Sunday (February 19, 2023), the German sleds continued their successful run. In the women’s singles, Dajana Eitberger won ahead of Julia Taubitz and Anna Berreiter. The team relay then added the icing on the cake to a perfect weekend from a German perspective.
The German dominance in the ice channel is impressive and leaves the competition amazed. After three wins in three races on Saturday, the lugers delivered an all-German podium on Sunday.
Showdown for the crown in Winterberg
Dajana Eitberger grabbed the day’s victory. The Thuringian tobogganed from fifth place to victory at half time and thus maintained her theoretical chances of winning the overall World Cup. “It was very wild. I didn’t expect that the three-man bob Germany I would strike again.”said Eitberger in the sports show.
In order for the World Cup crown to work out, Taubitz would have to fall off the sled in Winterberg. “I’m realistic about that, but I won’t admit defeat, otherwise I wouldn’t be there”Eitberger laughed.
Julia Taubitz has the much better cards. The Saxon, who started the race with a proud lead of 105 points, should have finished ahead of Eitberger in order to be able to pop the corks on the penultimate World Cup weekend. That didn’t work.
Taubitz (4th after the first round) showed nerves and was unable to gain any time, especially in the lower part of the track. This means there will be a showdown for the overall World Cup in Winterberg next weekend. The disappointment was still within limits: “It would have been awesome, but it’s also okay if it stays exciting until the end,” said Taubitz, who goes into the last World Cup weekend with a 90-point lead.
Berreiter loses a place
Third, Anna Berreiter crowned the strong German performance. The newly crowned world champion was just behind the leading Latvian Kendija Aparjode after the first round, but Berreiter lost time and finished third. Aparjode dropped back from pole position to seventh.
Fräbel makes up a lot of places
The youngest German in the team, Merle Fräbel (19) from RT Suhl, also made it into the top ten and finished the race in sixth place. Fräbel had problems in the first round on the world’s only natural ice rink and was already well behind in eleventh place. In the final, the Thuringian improved and passed the Austrian Madeleine Egle, who was fourth overall and still had hopes of a podium finish in the overall World Cup.
St. Moritz has only been an integral part of the toboggan world cup for two years. The 1,722 meter long track is built from scratch every year.
Team relay provides the crowning glory
An all-round successful World Cup weekend made the German team relay perfect. Eitberger, Max Langenhan and the doubles Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt took the win in 2:51.30 minutes ahead of the USA (+0.25 seconds) and Austria (+0.42).
With the second victory in the fifth of six team events this winter, Germany also extended its lead in the national ranking. Before the race, the German team was tied at the top with Latvia. However, the Latvian quartet missed the podium and lost 40 points.
Before the World Cup finals next weekend in Winterberg, the German lugers now have the best chance of overall victory with 455 points.