Gruber Wins Natural Track Season Opener

From Kühtai, AUT

(Dec. 16, 2018) – Alex Gruber came from behind in Kühtai to win the season opener on the FIL Natural Track World Cup tour.

The Italian came into the second heat in third, just .09 behind leader Thomas Kammerlander on the short Austrian course. On the second run Gruber set the quick time, edging Austrians Kammerlander and Florian Glatzl, who finished second and third, respectively.

Patrick Pigneter came into the second heat just .02 behind Kammerlander, but was shuffled back to fourth, only .01 out of the medals and .08 out of gold.

Michael Scheikl and Florian Clara rounded out the top six, while Christian Schopf and Stefan Federer helped make all top 8 positions either Italian or Austrian.

Results:

Pos Name Nation Bib Start 1 Start 2 Run 1 Run 2 Total
1 Alex Gruber ITA 36 7.94 7.88 28.48 28.31 56.79
2 Thomas Kammerlander AUT 37 7.86 7.80 28.39 28.43 56.82
3 Florian Glatzl AUT 32 7.89 7.71 28.51 28.35 56.86
4 Patrick Pigneter ITA 35 7.88 7.98 28.41 28.46 56.87
5 Michael Scheikl AUT 34 7.88 7.80 28.51 28.52 57.03
6 Florian Clara ITA 30 8.08 8.02 28.69 28.70 57.39
7 Christian Schopf AUT 28 7.80 7.89 28.84 28.96 57.80
8 Stefan Federer ITA 31 7.90 7.89 29.20 29.22 58.42
9 Aleksandr Egorov RUS 29 8.18 8.21 29.41 29.61 59.02
10 Jack Leslie NZL 27 8.20 8.13 29.41 29.71 59.12
11 Gregory Bukin RUS 33 7.92 8.01 29.36 29.78 59.14
12 Iurii Talykh RUS 26 8.06 7.97 29.43 30.03 59.46
13 Marius Schmelzer GER 21 8.07 8.22 30.94 31.60 1:00.54
14 Josef Limmer GER 22 8.23 8.22 30.94 31.60 1:02.54
15 Oliver Schiller GER 19 8.29 8.30 31.69 31.02 1:02.71
16 Adam Jedrzeijko POL 1 8.21 8.40 31.42 31.32 1:02.74
17 Bine Mekina SLO 16 8.56 8.61 31.77 31.28 1:03.05
18 Andrii Hirniak UKR 17 8.51 8.41 31.96 31.26 1:03.22
19 Rafal Zasuwa POL 23 8.91 8.81 33.10 32.47 1:05.57
20 Matevz Vertelj SLO 11 9.16 8.48 33.62 33.47 1:07.09
21 Blaz Mekina SLO 4 8.99 8.76 33.04 34.44 1:07.48
22 Tomas Hasek CZE 10 10.13 9.65 35.43 34.90 1:10.33
23 Vedran Bobvan CRO 8 9.42 9.13 36.57 34.78 1:10.34
24 David Rydl CZE 12 10.90 10.28 36.43 35.63 1:122.06
25 Myroslav Lenko UKR 25 8.09 8.24 48.43 32.79 1:21.22