23rd FIL European Championships Natural Track Luge 2010 - Preview

23^rd FIL European Championships

Natural Track Luge 2010

 

 

Press Information

Wednesday, January 13^th, 2010

 

 

European Championships, January 14^th-17^th, 2010

in St.Sebastian/Mariazell (AUT)

 

 

Premiere for Team Event in European Championships

 

For the first time ever a team event will be part of the European Championships which will be held this coming weekend in St. Sebastian near Mariazell, which is famous for pilgrimage. One run of a doubleseater and two single runs will be added, but athletes are allowed to start in both runs (single and double). This event will be held on the opening day of the Championships for which FIL president Josef Fendt is expected to attend.

He will be able to watch some exciting decisions. Superstar Patrick Pigneter (ITA) has won every available medal or title, except one: he has never been European Champion. In the two previous editions he won the bronze medal. Among his competitors will be two former and one reigning European Champion. Anton Blasbichler (ITA) won the title in 1993 in Stein/Enns (AUT) and 1999 in Szczyrk (POL), Gernot Schwab was Champion in 2006 in Umhausen (AUT) and Robert Batkowski (AUT) will try to defend his title.

In the double's event the title has been held by Russia's Pawel Porschnev/Ivan Lazarev for three consecutive championships, since Hüttau 2004. Only Helmut Ruetz/Andi Ruetz (AUT, 1995, 1997, 1999) achieved the same ever before. Patrick Pigneter/Florian Clara had to settle for silver last time in Olang.

In the women's event Ekatharina Lavrentjeva (RUS) is the number one contender. Not only has she won the title twice so far (2004 and 2008), in the previous years she has hardly been beaten at all. Only Renate Gietl (ITA) and Melanie Batkowski (AUT) managed to break her seemingly endless winning streak now and then. And those two will also be very determined to leave Mariazell with a medal. Renate Gietl has won two bronze medals in the last two editions of European Championships, but Melanie Batkowski finished fourth twice in a row.

The track in St. Sebastian has been rebuilt since last year's World Cup. The finish curve has been reconstructed and is less tricky now. Tomorrow, Thursday, all training runs will be held, Friday the team event will be held. Saturday and Sunday the singles will race for medals. In European Championships for singles three runs will be conducted.

 

 

Results of 2008 European Championships in Olang/Valdaora (ITA):

 

Women:

1. Ekatharina LAVRENTJEVA (RUS)

2. Renate KASSLATTER (ITA)

3. Renate GIETL (ITA)

4. Melanie BATKOWSKI (AUT)

5. Julia VETLOVA (RUS)

6. Evelyn LANTHALER (ITA)

 

Men:

1. Robert BATKOWSKI (AUT)

2. Anton BLASBICHLER (ITA)

3. Patrick PIGNETER (ITA)

4. Michael SCHEIKL (AUT)

5. Rudi RESCH (ITA)

6. Hannes CLARA (ITA)

 

Doubles:

1. Pawel PORSCHNEV/Ivan LAZAREV (RUS)

2. Patrick PIGNETER/Florian CLARA (ITA)

3. Aleksandr EGEROV/Petr POPOV (RUS)

4. Christian SCHATZ/Gerhard MÜHLBACHER (AUT)

5. Björn KIERSPEL/Christian WICHAN (GER)

6. Denis ALIMOV/Roman MOLVISTOV (RUS)

 

 

Program:

 

Thursday, 14.01. 2010:

Training runs for all events

 

Friday, 15.01.2010:

09.30am: Begin of team event

06.30pm: Opening Ceremony

 

Saturday, 16.01.2010:

09.30am: 1^st Competition Run Doubles

afterwards: 1^st Competition Run Women

11.30h: 2^nd Competition Run Doubles

afterwards Flower Ceremony Doubles

12.00pm: 2^nd Competition Run Women

afterwards: 1^st Competition Run Men

 

Sunday, 17.01.2010:

9.30am: 2^nd Competition Run Men

11.00am: 3^rd Competition Run Women

afterwards Flower Ceremony Women

12.00pm: 3^rd Competition Run Men

afterwards Flower Ceremony Men

2.00pm: Medal Ceremonies

 

 

Chris Karl

FIL Media Service

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