From Winterleiten, AUT
Feb. 10, 2018 – Patrick Pigneter and Florian Clara edged out Rupert Brüggler and Tobias Angerer to win the 2018 European Championships for Natural Track Luge.
The Italians were the fastest in both heats on their way to a .34 second advantage over their Austrian rivals. The win was the duo’s third consecutive European Championship dating back to the 2014 Championships, keeping them perfect as a team in the Euros.
Pigneter & Clara will look to finish their season with another World Cup title, needing to place in the top six to clinch.
In Natural Track, European Championships and World Championships alternate on odd/even years, with odd years going to Worlds and even going to Europeans.
Russia finished third through fifth, with the teams of Egorov & Popov, Proshnev & Lazarev, and Kovshik & Tarasov rounding out the top five.
Austrians Achenrainer & Brugger finished sixth, while British sliders Dex Unwin and Ashleigh Evans finished 13th.
Results:
| Pos | Names | Nation | Bib | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Pigneter / Clara | ITA | 14 | 1:16.66 | 1:17.09 | 2:33.75 |
| 2 | Brüggler / Angerer | AUT | 13 | 1:16.82 | 1:17.27 | 2:34.09 |
| 3 | Egorov / Popov | RUS | 15 | 1:17.26 | 1:18.09 | 2:35.35 |
| 4 | Porshnev / Lazarev | RUS | 16 | 1:17.46 | 1:18.25 | 2:35.71 |
| 5 | Kovshik / Tarasov | RUS | 5 | 1:18.77 | 1:18.91 | 2:37.68 |
| 6 | Achenrainer / Brugger | AUT | 6 | 1:19.05 | 1:19.77 | 2:38.82 |
| 7 | Folie / Gaio | ITA | 12 | 1:19.84 | 1:20.07 | 2:39.91 |
| 8 | Demchuk / Lenko | UKR | 8 | 1:19.09 | 1:20.94 | 2:40.09 |
| 9 | Haselrieder / Gruber | ITA | 2 | 1:19.92 | 1:21.60 | 2:41.52 |
| 10 | Limmer / Dietz | GER | 9 | 1:21.14 | 1:21.61 | 2:42.75 |
| 11 | Jedrzejko / Budny | POL | 11 | 1:22.01 | 1:22.48 | 2:44.49 |
| 12 | Mekine / Mekine | SLO | 1 | 1:24.69 | 1:25.45 | 2:50.14 |
| 13 | Unwin / Evans | GBR | 4 | 1:36.11 | 1:36.69 | 3:12.80 |
| 14 | Rydl / Rejnart | CZE | 7 | 1:43.23 | 1:42.77 | 3:26.00 |
| 15 | Guzeloglu / Ercoskun | TUR | 3 | DNS |
