Moan makes it a double, Ilves wins overall

In a dominant display, Magnus Moan from Norway has taken his second victory in a row at the Summer Grand Prix finals in Planica. 2 seconds separated Moan from teammate Jarl Riiber, who returned to the podium today. Yesterday’s unlucky fourth, Martin Fritz from Austria, conquered his coveted third place today, +3.1 after Moan.

Maxime Laheute made it two in a row and also won today’s jumping event, this time with a jump of 134.5 metres and 128.1 points. Yoshito Watabe was second and started just two seconds after Laheurte after a jump of 131.5 metres (127.5 p.). Jarl Magnus Riiber had a better day on the jumping hill and improved to a third position, with only 6 seconds to make up. He jumped 133 metres (126.5 p.).

Yesterday’s winner Magnus Moan set himself up excellently with 128 metres and the intermediate position. With 37 seconds to catch up, the Norwegian was poised for a top position again, as were his teammates Espen Andersen (6. 132.5 m; +0:17) and Jan Schmid (9. 130.5 m; +0:27). Also in the contention for another good result was Martin Fritz from Austria on the intermediate fourth rank and Laurent Muhlethaler on position seven. Kristjan Ilves gave himself the chance to improve yesterday’s less successful roller-ski race from position five, +0:16. The first 17 athletes started within one minute.

Maxime Laheurte, Jarl Riiber and Yoshito Watabe worked together to keep the pursuers at bay but already going out into the second lap, Martin Fritz, Kristjan Ilves and Espen Andersen had caught up with the trio. One lap later, Magnus Moan had also closed the gap and brought Jan Schmid, Laurent Muhlethaler and a bigger group of athletes with him. From this moment on, Moan was in control and worked his way to the front of the group continuously.

In a dominant show of strength, the Norwegian simply skied away from all pursuers in the fifth and reaped the benefits of his efforts at the finish line. He almost finished in a relaxed manner, while Riiber, Fritz and Schmid fought for the remaining spots on the podium with the first two being the lucky ones.

Maxime Laheurte reached the sixth position again, Yoshito Watabe and Go Yamamoto upheld the Japanese honour on ranks seven and eight and Andersen and Muhlethaler completed the Top Ten.

Kristjan Ilves was named winner of the Summer Grand Prix 2017 as per the Summer Grand Prix rules, an athlete has to start in all events to be eligible for the prize money and title of Summer Grand Prix winner. Ranks two and three went to Martin Fritz and Lukas Greiderer.