The Vorarlberg native won on the large hill with 195.7 points and jumps of 115.5 and 119.5 m, 2.4 points ahead of the Finn Jenny Rautionaho and 3.2 points ahead of Eirin Maria Kvandal (NOR). For Pinkelnig, who only joined at the end of December, it was the second win of the season following Oberstdorf.
Season dominator Nika Prevc, who had led following the first round, completely botched her final jump. The Slovenian was passed through to tenth place following the 96 m jump. Pinkelnig and Kvandal were ex aequo second following the first round.
Also read: Eva Pinkelnig: The high-flyer is back (OÖNplus)
“It was chaotic today, but people did the best they might. With the heavy snowfall, we had people cleaning our shoes because the snow was so sticky,” Pinkelnig reported. “I didn’t expect this victory at all. We had so many problems yesterday, sometimes too early, sometimes too late.”
Pinkelnig had missed the first four jumps due to an injury, but since her return she has been at the forefront once more: the ranks 4, 1, 2, 2 and one once more are evidence of this. Austria’s Athlete of the Year 2023 has now moved back to third place in the overall ranking, 137 points behind leader Prevc.
Jacqueline Seifriedsberger was the second best ÖSV jumper in eighth place, Sara Marita Kramer was eleventh, Chiara Kreuzer was 13th and Julia Mühlbacher was 16th. Lisa Eder also scored World Cup points in 29th place.
