The gold medal in the last competition of the Nordic Combined at the World Championships in Planica seems to have been awarded to Jarl Magnus Riiber following the jumping. The Norwegian sailed in the large hill singles despite shortening the hatch, but with a good updraft to 147 m and takes 36 seconds ahead of the not so strong Japanese Ryota Yamamoto (140.0 m) in the 10 km cross-country (3 p.m.). For the Tyrolean defending champion Johannes Lamparter, the fight for silver and bronze remains.
The 21-year-old only managed 130 m with the same run-up and a little less wind and, in fifth place on the trail, has a deficit of 1:26 minutes on Riiber. Lamparter goes into the cross-country two seconds behind Germany’s Julian Schmid and seven seconds ahead of Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro. Third-placed Estonian Kristjan Ilves (+1:02 min.) and Stefan Rettenegger (+1:50) in eighth place still have podium chances. The Salzburger might sneak up on the Lamparter group with the German Vinzenz Geiger (10./+2:16).
“I hope that we can come forward and develop a clever move,” said Lamparter of the APA – Austria Press Agency. “Silver, bronze – there’s something in there.” It was an okay jump in not so easy conditions. The leader in the overall World Cup is now hoping for fast material: “I need that now. But it’s not easy even with good skis.” Rettenegger sees it similarly in warm conditions: “We have a lot of good, light people, that might suit us. We are well positioned in terms of waxers.”
Martin Fritz jumped 131 m to ninth place (+2:13), Lukas Greiderer lost 2:26 min. with 130.5 m in twelfth place. World Cup debutant Thomas Rettenegger lined up in 36th place (+4:36). But Riiber outshone everyone, with his eighth World Cup gold he would be the new sole record man. “I didn’t expect that,” said the 25-year-old regarding his “flight”. “Hopefully it will be a lonely race to the finish line, I just have to stay focused.”
