Akito Watabe wins first PCR of 2021
Jan 14, 2021·Nordic Combined
Japan’s Akito Watabe impressed with stable, goof jumping in the two training rounds and won the first Provisional Competition Round in Val di Fiemme (ITA) with a jump on 103 metres and 140 points.
If the PCR will have to be used in case the weather conditions do not allow jumping during the weekend, Watabe will be in good company at the start of the race as his brother Yoshito claimed rank two with 137.6 points (102 m). He would start 10 seconds after this older brother. Norway’s Espen Bjørnstad would be hot on his heels and start only one second later after he showed 103 metres (137.3 p.) today.
Jarl Magnus Riiber was only fourth after his coaches went down one gate for the bearer of the yellow bib. 102 metres and 135.7 points were not good enough to challenge Watabe’s lead on this first day in Val di Fiemme.
Kristjan Ilves continued with strong jumping performances and claimed the fifth rank, followed by Lukas Greiderer. Ilkka Herola had a really good jump and would be an absolute threat for the podium if the PCR has to be used during the weekend. The Finn showed 99 metres and would start with a delay of only 27 seconds.
Eric Frenzel, Vinzenz Geiger and Fabian Rießle of the German team were also among the fast skiers who got good starting positions in today’s PCR: Frenzel was ninth with +0:32 and Geiger made his ambitions for the win clear with rank eleven and a start delay of +0:34. Rießle also jumped well in the training and PCR, and was 12th with +0:40.
Teammates Johannes Rydzek and Julian Schmid were not so lucky as Rydzek didn’t pass the suit control on top of the hill, while Schmid was disqualified in the equipment control after the jump, alongside Russia’s Samir Mastiev.
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