COC-M: Sixth season victory for Jakob Lange
Mar 08, 2020·Nordic Combined
Germany’s Jakob Lange continued his winning streak also on the second day in Lahti (FIN) to increase his COC win tally to six this season. Norway’s Kasper Moen Flatla was second, while Raffaele Buzzi (ITA) stormed to the podium in a finish line sprint.
Kasper Moen Flatla set the longest jump of the day with 128.5 metres (132.6 p.) and claimed a lead of ten seconds on runner-up Ernest Yahin, who showed 127.5 metres. Dominik Terzer was third on the start grid for the race with 124 metres (124.7 p.) and had to make up 32 second on leader Flatla.
Yesterday’s winner Jakob Lange was in an excellent position for the race again with 122.5 metres and position four. He start delay was 38 seconds. He was followed by Jakob Eiksund Sæthre (+0:58), Rasmus Ähtävä (1:05), Jonas Maier (+1:09), Alexander Pashaev (+1:18) and fast skier Paul Gerstgraser, who started with a disadvantage of one minute and 24 seconds.
Lange started off fast in the race and was able to reach Flatla after 5 kilometres of skiing.But here, the German showed no signs of stopping and was able to beat Flatla by 21,3 seconds at the finish line
The best jumper Flatla salvaged a safe second position but three fast skiers were vying for the remaining spot on the podium. A photo finish finally had to decide a finish line sprint between Rafaele Buzzi (ITA), Paul Gerstgraser (AUT) and Lars Buraas (NOR).
Italian Buzzi finally prevailed and finished 47 seconds after Lange, Gerstgraser took fourth place (+47.5) and Buraas fifth (+47.8) Buraas was also the fastest skier of the day and completed the 10 km in 24:16.9.
“The race was different from yesterday. I had a clear gap to Flatla. I tried to start fast and catch him in the second lap, then to follow him and recover to get clear of him. Luckily I got away from him pretty easily”, summarised Lange. The winner also liked the sunny conditions in Lahti. “There were perfect conditions at the hill. I’ve never been here with this less wind. It was a little bit wet in the uphill but otherwise there were very good conditions.”
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