Ruka (FIN): Norway dominates Compact premiere

Norway dominated the World Cup premiere of the Individual Compact format with a podium sweep in Ruka (FIN.

After the Ski Jumping competition, Johannes Lamparter took the lead, but couldn’t defend his position during the race.

In light snowfall the Austrian jumped the furthest distance of the day with 141 meters (156.3 pts) at the Rukatunturi HS 142 and took the lead. Therefore, he was the first one to start into the 7.5 km cross-country race in the afternoon.

Rank 2 after jumping went to PCR winner Jarl Magnus Riiber from Norway, who reached 134.5 meters (151.3 pts) and went into the course 6 seconds after Lamparter, due to the fixed starting times.

Local hero Eero Hirvonen (140.5 mts, 148.6pts) placed third, 12 seconds behind the leader.

Due to the tight time intervals of the compact format, a close race for the podium places could be expected. At the beginning, however, no one could have guessed how tight it would actually be in the end.

For most of the race, Lamparter and Riiber shared the lead. The chasing group, consisting of Hirvonen, Joergen Graabak, Jens Luraas Oftebro and Kristjan Ilves, worked their way up little by little.

While the distance after 2.5 km was still 8.9 seconds, the fast skiers reduced the distance to just 1.2 seconds after 3.6 km, while Manuel Faisst, Johannes Rydzek, Stefan Rettenegger and Ilkka Herola approached from behind, so that ten athletes had a chance for a podium spot at the last climb, all being together within 4 seconds.

The Norwegians turned on the turbo and tried to pull away from the competition when entering the stadium. Only Rydzek and Hirvonen were able to keep up until the home stretch, but in the end they had to give way to the strong Scandinavians, who claimed victory among themselves.

Oftebro crossed the finish line first, closely followed by Riiber (+0.4 sec) and Graabak (+1.1 sec).

With his victory, Oftebro not only takes the lead in the Ruka Tour but also in the Overall World Cup and will compete in the yellow bib tomorrow.

SJ Results: Compact Men HS142/7.5km – 24.11.23
Overall Results: Compact Men HS142/7.5km – 24.11.23