Team Norway impresses in Ruka PCR
Nov 28, 2019·Nordic Combined
With five athletes among the Top Seven, Team Norway set a high standard for the season to come in the Provisional Competition Round in Ruka today. Last year’s overall winner Jarl Magnus Riiber impressed with a jump of 144 metres and 153.6 points and took the win ahead of young teammate Jens Lurås Oftebro, who showed 138 metres and 137.7 points. Should the PCR have to be used during the weekend, this means Riiber would have a one minute and four second head start for the cross-country race.
Summer Grand Prix winner Franz-Josef Rehrl came in on the third rank with 137 metres (137 p.) and would follow Oftebro on the track two seconds later. 2014 Sochi Olympic Champion Jørgen Graabak had a strong jump of 137.5 metres and rank four in the PCR, followed by the second Oftebro brother, Einar (131.5 m; 126.2 p.). Ryota Yamamoto was the best Japanese on rank six (130 m; 125.5 p.) and Espen Bjørnstad completed his team’s strong result on rank seven. Graabak would start his race with a delay of 1:31, Einar Oftebro at +1:50, Yamamoto at +1:52 and Bjørnstad at +1:56.
As customary in Ruka, the jumping round was not an easy one and many athletes struggled with the hill and the conditions. Johannes Rydzek ended up on rank 42 and a delay of +7:44, Samuel Costa struggled to only 91 metres (+7:10) and Eric Frenzel had to be satisfied with rank 30 and 111 metres. As per Ruka Tour rules, the PCR today was not a a qualification, however, and all 57 athletes will be permitted to start in tomorrow’s Ind. Gundersen 5 km event. The trial rounds on Saturday and Sunday will be qualifications for the two respective events and will reduce the starting field to 50.
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