Who will carry the yellow bib into 2018?
Aug 31, 2018·Nordic Combined
The Nordic Combined World Cup makes a last stop in Ramsau am Dachstein, Austria before the Christmas break and with two Individual Gundersen events and a total of 200 World Cup points on the line, it remains to be seen who makes himself the best Christmas present: the yellow bib.
Surprise World Cup leader Espen Andersen has a 52-point lead on runner-up Akito Watabe and after him, the ranking is tight: only one point separate Watabe from third-placed Jan Schmid, who is in turn one point ahead of Germany’s Johannes Rydzek. The third weekend of the 2017/18 winter might be a first indicator of who is here to stay on top of the World Cup and who had lucky days in Scandinavia only.
Ramsau’s HS 98 hill, the smallest on the World Cup tour, is known for a tight field after the jumping event and it remains to be seen which athlete can cope best with the “Mass Start” conditions on the track. Broken poles or crashes are not uncommon on the winding 2.5 km loop that features fast downhills and and challenging uphills.
Traditionally a place for the stronger skiers, Johannes Rydzek and Eric Frenzel both won an event here last year (both with complete German podium sweeps) but also jumping sensation Jarl Magnus Riiber has a second and third place to show for from 2015, with a triple Norwegian podium sweep as well). With a field as wide open as this year, the weekend will certainly be full of suspense and surprises and maybe even another podium sweep is possible... for which team remains to be seen, though.
Program (local times! CET)
Friday, 15.12.
10:00 Official training HS 98
12:00 Provisional Competition Round/Qualification
14:00 Official training cross-country
Saturday, 16.12.
10:00 Trial Round HS 98
11:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 98
14:00 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race
Sunday, 17.12.
10:00 Trial Round HS 98
11:30 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN Competition Round HS 98
13:45 INDIVIDUAL GUNDERSEN 10 km cross-country race
Timetable subject to change!
Quick Facts:
HILL
WM-Schanze
HS 98
TRACK
WM-Stadion
2.5 km loop
Height Difference: 40 m
Maximum Climb: 40 m
Total Climb: 88 m
LAST YEAR’S PODIUM
IG: 1. Johannes Rydzek (GER), 2. Fabian Rießle (GER) 3. Eric Frenzel (GER)
IG: 1. Eric Frenzel (GER), 2. Fabian Rießle (GER), 3. Vinzenz Geiger (GER)
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