Preview 6th EBERSPÄCHER 2020/21 in Sigulda (LAT) - 52nd FIL European Championships Race-in-Race

Sigulda (FIL): 's Sigulda will see the 52nd FIL European Championships next weekend, as the sixth stop in the EBERSPÄCHER . For the races from January 8-10th in Latvia, 23 nations with 130 athletes have registered their participation. There will be 43 men, 37 women and 25 doubles at the start. All 130 athletes* and their coaches* and support staff* had to undergo Covid-19 testing before departure on two charter flights and immediately after arrival in Latvia respectively. All tested persons of the "FIL World Cup Bubble" were negative on both tests.

In the so-called Race-in-Race mode, the 52nd FIL European Championships will be held in Latvia next weekend in addition to the 6th EBERSPÄCHER World Cup. Non- European nations such as USA, Korea or Argentina will participate in the World Cup, but of course not in the European title fights.

Almost one year ago, on January 18 and 19th, 2020, the last European Championships of the International Luge Federation, FIL, took place in , . On the 1994 Olympic track, the team from was particularly convincing, winning six medals, while and secured two, and Latvia one European Championship medal. The 2020 European Championship titles were won, as the first Russians, by the future sprint world champions in doubles Aleksandr Denisev and , their teammate Tatyana Ivanova in women's singles, Italy's in men's singles and the team relay from Austria, with , and the double Steu/Koller. They will all start next weekend in Sigulda as defending champions.

After seven of twelve World Cup races this winter, and (both Germany) and the Austrian duo and are leading the World Cup standings in doubles. The current overall World Cup standings are available using the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/gesamtstaende?event_season_id=28

TV times of the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup and the 52nd FIL European Championships in Sigulda (LAT), race and training results can be found using the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-world-cup-4

All World Cup races can be followed in the FIL live stream (partly geo-blocked in Germany, Latvia and the USA) at: https://video.fil-luge.org/index.html

Quotes before the 6th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup in Sigulda:

Kristaps Mauriņš, Team Manager and Coach Team Latvia: " For us this will be the second most important race in this season behind the World Championships. It`s always nice to race at the home track but at the same time it puts a bigger preasure on us, because everyone who follows to luge in Latvia is awaiting the best results from us. We did as much as we could during the short Christmas break to prepare for upcoming European Championships. Regarding weather during the weekend, it is predicted to have the lowest temperatures in World Cup races so far in this season, it means that we can expect perfect ice conditions and maybe new track records. Definetely our strongest oponents in Sigulda will be Russians, Austrians and Germans. We are looking forward to show our best performance, and fight for medals in each discipline."

Sergey Chudinov, Head Coach Russian Luge Federation: "From the competition in Sigulda I expect, as always, a high level of organization, fast ice, a sporting atmosphere and that the winner will be the one who really deserves it and wants it more than anyone else."

Roman Repilov, World Champion: "Sigulda is my second home track. I like the track very much and it is not so far from Russia. Many people in Latvia speak Russian, so I almost feel a bit at home. I am really looking forward to the weekend and the races in Sigulda."

Robert Fegg, Head Coach USA Luge: " We expect to make a step forward during the week in Sigulda. As expected, the first World Cup in Königssee was difficult for us after three months of training at home on the same track. It was good to see where we are at, and we hope that we can improve now step by step each week and that the time will be enough to exploit our potential for the season highlight."

Norbert Loch, head coach Germany: "Sigulda is a pure luge track, even if in the meantime two-man World Cups take place there. For years, I have been convinced that our athletes are able to master this demanding track in Latvia very well - because all of them have learned luge from scratch on technically interesting luge tracks such as Oberhof or Königssee. The athletic challenge of the track in Sigulda is very high. Driving skills and athletic fitness are an important aspect and our athletes can do it. Therefore, we are looking forward to the European Championships and the 6th season`s World Cup in Latvia."

Natalie Geisenberger, Olympic Champion and World Cup Leader: "Sigulda will be very hard for me, it will be tough. Just because I know that this week I will be separated from my little "Leo" for the first time. It won't be pretty, but I'm an athlete and I want to fight for the overall World Cup. That's why I want to make it through the

week. The boy will be well taken care of, my parents will be there and of course my husband Markus. Dajana will comfort me, she has already promised that."

Julia Taubitz: "I like the track in Sigulda by now. I never thought I would say that. I'm definitely aiming for a podium finish."

Dajana Eitberger: "I had a very good training course in Sigulda at the beginning of the season, I have already put aside my respect for the track. I am looking forward to it, because it is not only a World Cup, but also a European Championship. And I'm celebrating my 30th birthday there. There are nice things waiting for me that I'm looking forward to."

Felix Loch, World Cup Leader: "For the European Championships and the World Cup in Sigulda I have a lot planned. First of all, the goal is to luge down the challenging track cleanly. Then it usually doesn't go so badly. And I also want to test my sled, even though Sigulda is a completely different track than Königssee. There are still one or two things I would like to try. Sigulda is a good choice. And in the end I hope to be able to stand on the podium again."

Toni Eggert, World Champion: "Sigulda is a track we like very much. We have already had very nice and successful races there, but also crashes. It is a track that really has it all. Much to our delight, the weather in Sigulda is very wintry - low temperatures with minus eight to ten degrees. We have also slided there at minus 30 degrees. We're really looking forward to Sigulda because because the cards for the game are reshuffled."

Madeleine Egle (AUT): "Sigulda is a technically very demanding track, I like that very much and it actually suits me well. The upper part of the track is extremely difficult to get through without sliding. Then, of course, turns 11 to 15 are technically very demanding to drive and you always have to pay attention and be highly concentrated. I'm really looking forward to the European Championships and the World Cup in Latvia."

Kurt Brugger, Head Coach Italy: "For our established athletes Sigulda is a great challenge. For the youngsters in the team it is of course difficult to master the track and to be really fast there with five training runs, especially since we have not been able to train in Sigulda in preparation for this season either. So it will be exciting and we are looking forward to the races this weekend."

Schedule 6th EBERSPÄCHER World Cup 2020/21 in Sigulda:

Friday, January 8th, 2021 09:00 Nations Cup / Award Ceremony 14:30 Training seeding-group

Saturday, January 9th, 2021 11.30 h 1st run Men‘s singles 13.05 h 2nd run Men‘s singles 15.10 h 1st run Doubles 16.30 h 2nd run Doubles

Sunday, January 10th, 2021 10.30 h 1st run Women 11.55 h 2nd run Women 13.50 h Team Relay

Subject to change / Local times from Latvia

Luge track Sigulda (LAT):

Data & Facts Sigulda:

MEN: 1260 m Length 16 Curves

WOMEN / DOUBLES:

998 m Length 13 Curves

www.bobtrase.lv

Men Singles World Cup 2020/21 EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Herren 2020/21

Event Location Gold Silber Bronze 1. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Felix Loch Dominik Fischnaller 28./29. Nov. 2020 AUT GER GER ITA 1. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Innsbruck Felix Loch David Gleirscher Jonas Müller 29. Nov 20 AUT GER AUT AUT 2. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Altenberg Felix Loch Max Langenhan Kristers Aparjods 05. / 06. Dez. 2020 GER GER GER LAT 3. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Oberhof Felix Loch Johannes Ludwig Jonas Müller 12. /13. Dez. 2020 GER GER GER AUT 4. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Winterberg Felix Loch Dominik Fischnaller 19. /20. Dez. 2020 GER GER AUT ITA 2. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Winterberg Max Langenhan Kevin Fischnaller Dominik Fischnaller 20. Dez 20 GER GER ITA ITA 5. EBERSPÄCHER Weltcup Königssee Felix Loch Roman Repilov Johannes Ludwig 02./03. Januar 2021 GER GER RUS GER 6. EBERSPÄCHER- Sigulda Weltcup+EM 09. / 10. Jan. 2021 LAT 7. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Oberhof 16. / 17. Jan. 2021 GER 8. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Innsbruck 23. / 24. Jan. 2021 AUT 3. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Innsbruck 24. Jan 21 AUT 9. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup St. Moritz 06./07. Feb. 2021 SUI Johannes Dominik Felix Loch, GER / Overall 07/12 Ludwig,GER / Fischnallelr,ITA / 655 Punkte 420 391

Mens' Doubles World Cup 2020/21 EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Doppel 2020/21

Event Location Gold Silber Bronze Thomas Steu / Yannick Müller / / Sascha 1. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Innsbruck Lorenz Koller Armin Frauscher Benecken 28./29. Nov. 2020 AUT AUT AUT GER Thomas Steu / Ludwig Rieder / 1. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Innsbruck Andris Sics / Juris Sics Lorenz Koller Patrick Rastner 29. Nov 20 AUT AUT LAT ITA Thomas Steu / Toni Eggert / Sascha / 2. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Altenberg Lorenz Koller Benecken 05. / 06. Dez. 2020 GER AUT GER GER Toni Eggert / Thomas Steu / Lorenz Yannick Müller / 3. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Oberhof Koller Armin Frauscher 12. /13. Dez. 2020 GER GER AUT AUT Tobias Wendl / Toni Eggert / Sascha 4. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Winterberg Andris Sics / Juris Sics Tobias Arlt Benecken 19. /20. Dez. 2020 GER GER GER LAT Toni Eggert / Thomas Steu / Lorenz Tobias Wendl / 2. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Winterberg Sascha Benecken Koller Tobias Arlt 20. Dez 20 GER GER AUT GER Toni Eggert / Tobias Wendl / Thomas Steu / Lorenz Königssee 5. EBERSPÄCHER Weltcup Sascha Benecken Tobias Arlt Koller 02./03. Januar 2021 GER GER GER AUT 6. EBERSPÄCHER- Sigulda Weltcup+EM 09. / 10. Jan. 2021 LAT 7. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Oberhof 16. / 17. Jan. 2021 GER 8. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Innsbruck 23. / 24. Jan. 2021 AUT 3. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Innsbruck 24. Jan 21 AUT 9. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup St. Moritz 06./07. Feb. 2021 SUI

Steu / Koller Eggert / Benecken Wendl / Arlt Gesamt 07/12 AUT / 586 Punkte GER / 566 Pkt. AUT / 463 Punkte

Women Singles World Cup 2020/21 EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Damen 2020/21

Event Location Gold Silber Bronze Natalie Dajana 1. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Innsbruck Geisenberger Eitberger 28./29. Nov. 2020 AUT GER GER GER Natalie Dajana 1. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Innsbruck Julia Taubitz Geisenberger Eitberger 29. Nov 20 AUT GER GER GER Natalie Ekaterina 2. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Altenberg Tatyana Ivanova Geisenberger Katnikova 05. / 06. Dez. 2020 GER RUS GER RUS Natalie 3. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Oberhof Kendia Aparjode Geisenberger 12. /13. Dez. 2020 GER GER GER LAT Natalie 4. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Winterberg Julia Taubitz Eliza Tiruma Geisenberger 19. /20. Dez. 2020 GER GER GER LAT Natalie Dajana 2. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Winterberg Julia Taubitz Geisenberger Eitberger 20. Dez 20 GER GER GER GER Natalie Königssee Julia Taubitz Madeleine Egle 5. EBERSPÄCHER Weltcup Geisenberger 02./03. Januar 2021 GER GER GER AUT 6. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup+EM Sigulda 09. / 10. Jan. 2021 LAT 7. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Oberhof 16. / 17. Jan. 2021 GER 8. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup Innsbruck 23. / 24. Jan. 2021 AUT 3. BMW Sprint-Weltcup Innsbruck 24. Jan 21 AUT 9. EBERSPÄCHER-Weltcup St. Moritz 06./07. Feb. 2021 SUI

Natalie Dajana Julia Taubitz, Gesamt 07/12 Geisenberger, Eitberger, GER GER / 591 GER / 595 / 445

EBERSPÄCHER Team Relay World Cup 2020/21 presented by BMW

Event Location Gold Silber 1. EBERSPÄCHER Team- GER AUT RUS Staffel-Weltcup Julia Taubitz Madeleine Egle Ekaterina Katnikova presented by BMW Felix Loch Jonas Müller Semen Pavlichenko 29. Nov. 2020, Igls / AUT Eggert-Benecken Steu-Koller Kashkin-Korshunov 2. EBERSPÄCHER Team- ITA RUS LAT Staffel-Weltcup Andrea Vötter Tatyana Ivanova Kendija Aparjode presented by BMW Kevin Fischnaller Semen Pavlichenko Kristers Aparjods 06. Dez. 2020, Altenberg / GER Rieder-Rastner Denisev-Antonov Sics-Sics 3. EBERSPÄCHER Team- GER AUT POL Staffel-Weltcup Dajana Eitberger Madeleine Egle Klaudia Domaradzka presented by BMW Felix Loch Jonas Müller Mateusz Sochowicz 13. Dez. 2020, Oberhof / GER Eggert-Benecken Steu-Koller Chmielewski-Kowalewski 4. EBERSPÄCHER Team- AUT GER RUS Staffel-Weltcup Madeleine Egle Julia Taubitz Viktoriia Demchenko presented by BMW Nico Gleirscher Felix Loch Roman Repilov 03. Jan. 2021, Königssee / GER Steu-Koller Eggert-Benecken Kashkin-Korshunov 5. EBERSPÄCHER Team- Staffel-Weltcup presented by BMW 10. Jan. 2021, Sigulda / LAT 6. EBERSPÄCHER Team- Staffel-Weltcup presented by BMW 07. Feb. 2021, St.Moritz / SUI GER AUT RUS Gesamt 4/6 285 Punkte 270 Punkte 225 Punkte

Infos & Links Further information about the 6th EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup in Sigulda (e.g. TV times, training results, etc.) can be found under the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher- world-cup-4

Results and Information about the EBERSPÄCHER Team Relay World Cup presented by BMW in Latvia you will find here: https://www.fil- luge.org/en/multimedia/eberspaecher-team-relay- world-cup-presented-by-bmw-3

FIL Live-Streaming with Luge announcer Tim Singer (USA) and the reviews of all races are online: https://video.fil-luge.org/

FIL Covid-19 information: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/covid-19-information-text

Information about the international athletes can be found online in the FIL media guide: https://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/fil-medienguide- 2020-2021-web.pdf

Link to the international rules and regulations (IRO) and the Olympic qualification criteria for Beijing 2022 https://www.fil- luge.org/de/regelwerk/regelwerk-kunstbahn

For press photos please contact: press@fil- luge.org

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