Vinzenz Geiger clinches maiden World Cup victory in Fiemme
Jan 13, 2019·Nordic Combined
“Team Oberstdorf” was successful again! After claiming the second place in the Team Sprint yesterday, Vinzenz Geiger and Johannes Rydzek went one - two in the second Individual Gundersen competition in Val di Fiemme. Geiger set his first-ever World Cup victory by finishing 7.6 seconds ahead of his teammate. Japan’s Akito Watabe claimed the remaining spot on the podium. He crossed the finish line 40.6 seconds after the winner.
Franz-Josef Rehrl returned after sitting yesterday’s Team Sprint out and won the competition round in Val di Fiemme with a jump of 128.5 metres. 143.1 points meant a lead of 34 seconds on runner-up Szczepan Kupczak. The Pole was the only one to enjoy headwind conditions and flew to great 136 metres, taking the second place with 134.6 points. Akito Watabe was third with 126 metres and 134.1 points and started his race 36 seconds after Rehrl.
The German team showed a good performance again with Vinzenz Geiger claiming the fourth position and Johannes Rydzek starting his race from rank six. Both athletes were only separated by 5 seconds, starting at +0:37 and +0:42. Also superstar Eric Frenzel had a slightly better attempt on the jumping hill today and landed at 120 metres, which had him start at +1:25 after Rehrl.
Jumping winner Franz-Josef Rehrl was only able to enjoy his lead for one lap before Vinzenz Geiger, Johannes Rydzek, Akito Watabe and Espen Bjørnstad had closed the gap. The five athletes stayed together for a while until Bjørnstad had to let go first, he was later swallowed up by a larger pursuing group and ultimately finished his race on the eleventh place.
The leading foursome continued on with Geiger and Rydzek working together to keep the pace steady and high. Akito Watabe and Franz-Josef Rehrl were no match and lost contact to the two Germans on the third lap.
Johannes Rydzek set his attack on the long uphill, similar to the first day but some head wind slowed him down in the following downhill and helped Geiger to close the few metres that Rydzek had gained on the uphill. He, in turn, attacked on the last, shorter uphill of the lap and set an incredible frequency that Rydzek was not able to follow. Geiger was able to enjoy his triumph on the final stretch, as Rydzek had dropped considerably back.
Behind the two Germans, Akito Watabe managed to drop Franz-Josef Rehrl on the last part of the final lap as well and collected yet another podium. Eric Frenzel stormed to rank five, Jørgen Graabak was sixth. Ilkka Herola returned with a Top Ten result on rank seven and Jan Schmid, Terence Weber and Fabian Rießle completed the Top ten.
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