Another successful day for Team Norway at Continental Cup in Eisenerz

With an outstanding jump to 101.5m Gyda Westvold Hansen was also unbeatable in Sunday’s competition in Eisenerz. With that jump the young Norwegian put herself in a comfortable advantage of 48 seconds ahead of Annika Sieff (94.0m, 110.6p.) 52 seconds ahead of Veronica Gianmoena (89.5m, 109.7p.). In fourth position after jumping was Mari Leinan Lund (95.5m, 106.1p.), fifth was Sigrun Kleinrath (89.5m, 104.5p.), rank six went to Svenja Würth (88.5m, 102.4p.).

Despite her big advantage after jumping Westvold Hansen skied a very fast race and celebrated a clear start-finish victory. Behind her however, it was a very exciting race. A large group with Lisa Hirner, who was 9th after jumping, Mari Leinan Lund, Marte Leinan Lund (15th after jumping) and Sigrun Kleinrath skied the race together and fought for the following positions. In the end it was local hero Lisa Hirner, who was the lucky winner of that group and ended up on rank two (+1:35.1) ahead of the Norwegian Leinan Lund sisters Mari (+1:39.9) and Marte (+1:43.4), her teammate Sigrun Kleinrath (+1:43.7) and Annika Sieff from Italy (+1:51.2).

The fastest cross-country time went to Marte Leinan Lund (14:32.8).

The men’s jumping round was once again dominated by Christian Deuschl, who landed an incredible jump to 109.5m (129.6p.). Also David Mach on rank two was very happy with his jump to 103.0m (126.3p.), which brought him 13 seconds behind the Austrian. On rank three followed Harald Johnas Riiber (104.0m, 124.6p.). Philipp Orter (101.5m, 122.2p.), Manuel Einkemmer (101.5m, 121.2p.) and Leif Torbjoern Naesvold (100.5m, 119.1p.) followed on rank four, five and six.

During the cross-country race Deuschl was able to keep his lead for about 1.5 laps until he got caught by a huge group with about 10 athletes, including Andersen, Tiller, Orter, Einkemmer, Naesvold, Mach and Riiber. However, none of these guys wanted to take over the lead, which is why they lost a lot of time and the followers were getting closer. By the end of the third lap they enhanced the pace with six or seven athletes fighting for the win. In the end it was Naesvold, who was the lucky winner of the finish sprint ahead of Simen Tiller (+00:00.2 sec) and Philipp Orter (+00:00.9 sec). Espen Andersen (+00:01.7 sec), Manuel Einkemmer (+00:02.7 sec) and Lars Ivar Skaarset (+00:06.2 sec) completed the top six.

One again the fastest cross-country skier was Lars Buraas, who had been 46th after jumping and ended the race on rank nine.