The German luge team launched their season in Lillehammer with impressive performances. Julia Taubitz secured her 28th World Cup singles victory, narrowly beating American Emily Sweeney. Toni Eggert made a remarkable comeback in doubles, partnering with Florian Müller to set a new track record. Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal fell just short of victory in their event. The team looks forward to the next competition in Innsbruck-Igls, aiming to maintain their success.
Exciting Luge Season Opener in Lillehammer
The German luge team kicked off their season with a bang in Lillehammer, showcasing their talent and determination. Julia Taubitz triumphed in the singles event, while Toni Eggert made a remarkable comeback in the doubles. Additionally, the duo of Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal also had their moments of celebration.
Taubitz Shines in Singles Competition
After nearly five years away, lugers returned to southern Norway, and Julia Taubitz proved her exceptional skills on the iconic Olympic track from 1994. The talented 28-year-old from Annaberg-Buchholz secured her 28th World Cup victory in singles on November 30, 2024, finishing just ahead of American Emily Sweeney by a mere 0.092 seconds. Austria’s world champion, Lisa Schulze, took the third spot with a time that trailed Taubitz by 0.152 seconds.
Merle Fräbel rounded out the impressive German performance by clinching fifth place, while Anna Berreiter and Melina Fabienne Fischer finished 14th and 15th, respectively, during this season’s World Cup debut under new national coach Patric Leitner.
Reflecting on her victory, Taubitz expressed her excitement, stating, “Starting the season with a win is of course super cool.” Despite facing challenges in training, she managed to push through, ultimately delivering an exceptional performance. In the first run, she established a significant lead with a new track record, demonstrating her prowess as the previous season’s overall World Cup winner.
However, competition remained fierce as Sweeney raised the stakes by breaking Taubitz’s track record. Nevertheless, Taubitz responded with another stellar run, solidifying her victory with confidence.
Looking ahead, Taubitz aims to expand her medal collection at the upcoming World Championships in Whistler, Canada, in February, where she hopes to replicate her past successes.
Eggert’s Stunning Comeback in Doubles
Shortly after Taubitz’s victory, national coach Leitner celebrated another unexpected win with Toni Eggert’s stunning return to the doubles competition. Partnering with Florian Müller, Eggert achieved a remarkable time of 1:33.846 minutes, outpacing Latvians Martins Bots and Roberts Plume by 0.132 seconds, with Austrian duo Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl finishing third.
In their first run, Eggert and Müller demonstrated excellent teamwork, setting a new track record and claiming the top spot. Despite the strong competition, the established favorites, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, finished fifth, unable to prevent Eggert’s surprising success.
Post-race, Eggert commented on their victory, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and the favorable weather conditions. Müller praised Eggert’s driving skills, expressing admiration for his partner’s performance. However, Eggert remained realistic about the future, acknowledging that the competition is always evolving.
Having previously achieved remarkable success with partner Sascha Benecken, including eleven world championship titles, Eggert’s return to the sport has reignited his passion, with Olympic gold in 2026 as his ultimate goal.
Degenhardt and Rosenthal’s Narrow Miss
Earlier in the day, the German duo Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal made a strong showing but finished just short of victory, losing to the American team of Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirby by a mere 0.017 seconds. Despite improving their time in the second run, they couldn’t secure the win.
Meanwhile, Dajana Eitberger faced disappointment alongside her new partner Magdalena Matschina, crashing out in the first run. Eitberger, a former singles world champion, remained optimistic about their future together, aiming to qualify for the 2026 Olympic Games.
As the season progresses, the next competition will take place in Innsbruck-Igls next week, where the German team hopes to continue their momentum and strive for further victories.