Graabak/Riiber dazzle in Val di Fiemme Team Sprint
Jan 12, 2020·Nordic Combined
Jørgen Graabak and Jarl Magnus Riiber demonstrated the perfect Team Sprint competition on the last competition day in Val di Fiemme. Team Norway I won the event in a dominating fashion, finishing 43.8 seconds ahead of Team Germany I (Rießle/Geiger). Lukas Greiderer and Martin Fritz conquered the first podium of the season for Austria on rank 3.
Team Japan I battled to a narrow lead in the jumping portion of the event with two great jumps of 103.5 and 103 metres from Ryota Yamamoto and Akito Watabe. 283.9 points meant the pole position for the Japanese but power duo Jørgen Graabak / Jarl Magnus Riiber accumulated 282.8 points for Team Norway I. With jumps of 102 and 102.5 metres, they started only two seconds after the Japanese.
The second Norwegian team consisting of Jens Lurås Oftebro and Espen Bjørnstad showed 102 and 99 metres and collected 271.8 points, which translated to a start disadvantage of 24 seconds. Hot on their heels was Team Austria I with 269.2 points and five more seconds of time disadvantage. Also in the game for the top positions were Team Germany I with Fabian Rießle and Vinzenz Geiger, who started +0:34 seconds behind the leaders. Team Austria II (Greiderer/Fritz) had a delay of 38 seconds at the start line.
After these six top teams, a little gap opened up before Team Japan II started at +1:02, Johannes Rydzek and Eric Frenzel followed at +1:07 for Team Germany II. The teams from the Czech Republic I, France and Poland started together around the +1:30 mark and another cluster of teams (Finland I, Italy I and Czech Republic II) began their race shortly before the two minute mark.
Team Japan’s head start evaporated in the first lap already when Ryota Yamamoto proved to be no match for Jørgen Graabak’s cross-country prowess. From that moment on, the Norwegian team marched forward and - in a show of cross-country strength and great pacing - was never in any danger whatsoever to lose the victory of the day. Jarl Magnus Riiber had time to dust off his shoulders, demonstratively watch out for opponents and celebrate with Graabak while crossing the finish line and visibly enjoyed his return to number one.
Behind the Norwegians, the race turned into a true nail biter between four teams: Norway II, Austria I and II and Germany I. At first, the leading Japanese team skied together with this group but dropped back before the 7.5 km point. They finished in position nine.
Norway I was the first team to have to concede defeat and let the other three teams go at the 10.5 km exchange. The decision about the two remaining podium position was only made on the final stretch where Vinzenz Geiger was the strongest athlete once more and claimed the silver position for Germany. Martin Fritz tried sprinting against Geiger but, as so many before him, lost to the immense finishing qualities of the 22-year-old German. He did, however, beat Lukas Klapfer to the bronze rank.
Norway II ended their race on rank five, Finland improved to position six, the local heroes Samuel Costa and Alessandro Pittin skied to rank seven. Johannes Rydzek and Eric Frenzel claimed position eight and the Top Ten were completed by Japan I and Antoine Gerard and Laurent Muhlethaler for France.
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