Johannes Rydzek makes it two in a row in PyeongChang
Aug 31, 2018·Nordic Combined
It came down to a photo finish between Johannes Rydzek and Eric Frenzel in the second Individual event in PyeongChang and like in Seefeld, Rydzek had the better end for himself. Austria’s Mario Seidl repeated his podium performance of yesterday and claimed a third place this time, finishing 19 seconds behind Rydzek and Frenzel.
Mario Seidl reigned supreme on the jumping hill again and set the first jump over 140 metres on this weekend. 142 metres and 127.1 points meant a 35-second head start on Eric Frenzel, who came in second with 131.5 metres (118.3 p.). Switzerland Tim Hug used very good conditions for a very good jump of 137 metres. This result put him in the intermediate third position, 45 seconds behind Seidl.
Manuel Faißt and Eero Hirvonen jumped 129 and 129.5 metres respectively, which gave them positions four and five for the race. Yesterday’s winner Johannes Rydzek breathed down their backs as he started from position six with a delay of one minute and 16 seconds after a 126 metre jump. Just three second later, Norwegian Jan Schmid went out on the track. Yesterday’s third-placed Fabian Rießle was a little further back with a delay of one minute and 43 seconds.
Mario Seidl valiantly defended his lead in the race until halfway through the second lap, when Eric Frenzel had made up his 35 seconds of time disadvantage from the start. Seidl and Frenzel skied together but behind them, Johannes Rydzek was not to be stopped. With the fastest cross-country time of 24:58.0, the World Cup leader caught up with the two and on the last ascent, Frenzel and Rydzek shook off Seidl. It came down to a finish line sprint which Rydzek decided in his favour. A slightly sick Eric Frenzel, who suffered from a cold, had to concede defeat.
Mario Seidl delighted in his third place and the supreme command of PyeongChang’s jumping hill. Fabian Rießle skied from position 12 to a final fourth rank, while Manuel Faißt was fifth and Tim Hug finished sixth. Korean starter Je-Un Park acquired the first World Cup point of his career on positon 30.
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