Hagen shines in Schonach with ninth straight World Cup win

Norwegian star Ida Marie Hagen stormed to her fifth successive victory of this women’s Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season in Schonach after another dominant cross-country display.

The defending champion was only eighth after the ski jumping, starting the reduced 4km circuit with a 25-second deficit on Maria Gerboth (GER), who had again excelled on the hill.

But Hagen was up to fourth inside the first 600m and had taken the lead by the end of the first kilometer, leaving the rest to compete for the minor places.  

The 24-year-old had moved 15 seconds clear by the halfway point and extended that over the third kilometer before easing back to enjoy the acclaim of the crowd as she completed a ninth straight World Cup win overall, having also won the final four events of last season.

It was Hagen's first Schwarzwaldpokal trophy after finishing second last year behind currently injured team-mate Mari Leinan Lund.

"It means a lot," she said. "I really miss Mari on trips so the least I can do is bring it home for her. If someone was taking it from her, it's nice it is me."

Home favourite Nathalie Armbruster also powered through the field from 10^th place, after starting 32 seconds behind, to finish second – her third podium finish in Schonach in as many years.

“It is just the perfect day,” said the 19-year-old. “I am so incredibly happy and overwhelmed to be second in front of my home crowd and my friends and family. It is just amazing, I had really fast skis and it felt so good.”

Haruka Kasai (JPN) pipped her twin sister Yuna for the final place on the podium, with the fast-finishing Marte Leinan Lund (NOR) - Mari's younger sister - taking fifth as Lisa Hirner (AUT) faded to sixth on the second lap.

"I am happy with my third place," said Haruka Kasai. "The jump was not ideal but I could show a strong cross-country performance which I am really satisfied with. To finish on the podium is always special, so it was a good day."

Hagen extended her lead in the overall standings to 105 points over Nathalie Armbruster ahead of Sunday’s Compact event, with Haruka Kasai remaining in third place

Earlier Trine Goepfert (GER), the third to go, was the early leader on the Langewald with 121.7 points from a 92.5-meter jump.

But first Hirner (AUT), scoring 127.7 points from an excellent 95.5m effort, overhauled her before German Maria Gerboth (below), who topped the Best Jumper standings after the first four events, earned 128.5 points for a 95.0m jump to lead on the hill.

Yuna Kasai (JPN) matched Hirner’s longest jump of 95.5m for 127.9 points to put her into second place with a two-second deficit going into the cross-country.

Despite moving down two start gates, Gyda Westvold Hansen’s poor jumping form continued as an 89.0m effort for 107.4 points left her more than a minute back.

The two-time champion dropped even further behind in the cross-country race, finishing 1:25.4 adrift in 15^th place.