From Umhausen, AUT
(February 9, 2025) – The FIL World Cup saw another first on Sunday, as Switzerland’s Stefan Federer won his first career gold as part of his first career podium in the eliminator race in Umhausen.
Federer, fourth in the world coming into the race, had a bye in the first round and had to race teammate Jerome Almer in the quarterfinals. A win there placed him against Fabian Brunner in the semis, where he also won handily on his way to the finals.
All four finalists had byes in the first round. The World Cup leader coming into the event, Florian Clara beat out Florian Markt and Slovakia’s Vid Kralj on his way to the finals, while world champion Michael Sheikl slid past Coskun Ercoskun and Patrick Pigneter.
Fabian Achenrainer, the second Austrian in the field, slid past Samuel Halcin and Alex Oberhofer, who was third in the rankings coming into the race, before taking on Federer, Clara and Schikl,
In the finals, Sheikl slid to the lead, but was picked off by Federer by .36. Clara had some trouble in his second run and fell behind the duo. Aachenrainer nearly beat out Sheikl, but fell behind late by just .04 to finish third.
When everything fully shook out, it was Stefan Federer atop the podium for the first time of his career after a bunch of near-misses throughout the season. Scheikl took second, and Achenrainer third.
Behind them, the semifinalists sorted out with Patrick Pigneter well ahead of Alex Oberhofer, Fabian Brunner and Vid Kralj.
Going into the final race of the season, it will be a race-off between Michael Sheikl and Florian Clara, as the duo are separated by just five points. Alex Oberhofer is third, only four points ahead of Stefan Federer in fourth, with Fabian Acherainer in fifth.
Final Round Results:
1. Stefan Federer (SUI) – 1:13.29
2. Michael Sheikl (AUT) – 1:13.65
3. Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) – 1:13.69
4. Florian Clara (ITA) – 1:14.13
Semifinal Results:
5. Patrick Pigneter (ITA) – 1:13.65
6. Alex Oberhofer (ITA) – 1:14.42
7. Fabian Brunner (ITA) – 1:15.39
8. Vid Kralj (SLO) – 1:15.65
Quarterfinal Results:
9. Sebastian Feldhammer (AUT) – 1:14.88
10. Florian Markt (AUT) – 1:15.20
11. Gabrian Halcin (SVK) – 1:16.01
12. Ziga Kralj (SLO) – 1:16.23
13. Jerome Almer (SUI) – 1:16.98
14. Samuel Halcin (SVK) 1:17.22
15. Peter Neupauer (SVK) 1:17.50
16. Coskun Ercoskun (FIN) – 1:18.54
First Round Results:
17. Mason Palecek (USA) – 1:17.31
18. Thomas Matthews (USA) – 1:17.82
19. David Rydl (CZE) – 1:18.61
20. Dominik Neupauer (SVK) – 1:19.58
21. Leonard Pizziola (USA) – 1:19.64
22. Shohei Tanaka (SUI) – 1:22.80