Latvia Wins Team Relay Gold in Winterberg

From Winterberg, GER

(January 2, 2022) – If there’s one thing that people have come to expect in the FIL Team Relay events, it’s Germany contending for gold on German tracks. The nation has won over half of all Team Relay events, and it seemed like in Winterberg there would be more of that.

But that’s why we run the races.

Latvia, led by a strong opening slide by Eliza Tiruma, took the lead from the eighth starting spot with five teams to go. Russia faltered out the gate, and while the United States put down three quality runs, it wasn’t enough to catch the Latvians.

Austria, who placed medalists in all three disciplines, came within .4 of the Latvians on the strength of a quick closing slide by Thomas Steu & Lorenz Koller, but it wasn’t enough for gold.

That left Germany, who won gold in all three races leading up to the Team Relay. Julia Taubitz, who won gold just an hour earlier, set the pace early, just ahead of Tiruma’s time. But as Johannes Ludwig pulled off for his run he slid to the left too far and hit the wall. While the men’s luge gold medalist was able to get righted and finish his run, he left his team well out of the lead. Tobias Wendl & Tobias Arlt did what they could to close the gap but their effort could only place them in fourth.

Latvia came out on top, with Austria in second place and the United States finishing with their second bronze medal of the Team Relay season.

Germany, Canada, and Russia rounded out the top six.

With two Team Relay competitions to go on the season, Germany holds a one point advantage over Austria. The United States is third, ahead of Latvia, Russia, Italy, and Canada.

Results: