Lanthaler Continues Perfect Stretch

From Laas, ITA

(January 7, 2024) – Evelin Lanthaler has been the class of the field in women’s natural track luge for nearly a decade now, and once again she cruised to a victory in Laas, Italy, this time nearly setting the two fastest runs of the day of anyone who took to the ice.

Lanthaler’s first downtime was a 1:04.13, fastest of the women’s first heat by .92 ahead of Germany’s Lisa Walch. That time would have been enough for second place in the men’s race.

In the second heat, Lanthaler once again threw down, this time with a 1:04.68. That, once again, would have been the second quickest time in the men’s race, with a combined downtime that was only .24 behind the time set by men’s luge teammate Daniel Gruber.

Lanthaler took gold for the second straight race this season. The win was her 23rd straight and 34th in her last 35 races.

Like their men’s luge teammates, the Italian women swept the podium in Laas. Daniela Mittermair finished with a silver medal, 1.86 seconds back behind Lanthaler, white Nadine Staffler moved up from fourth to take bronze.

Austria’s Riccarda Ruetz moved up from sixth to fourth, just .02 ahead of Germany’s Lisa Walch. Walch had entered the second heat in second place but a rough second run dropped her to fifth.

Katie Cookman was the lone American in the field and finished tenth. Nadja Loder finished 12th for Canada.

Results: