Tschagguns: Maiden victory for Einar Oftebro
Aug 25, 2024·Nordic Combined)
Einar Luraas Oftebro is the men’s first Individual winner of the FIS Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix 2024 in Tschagguns.
The Ski Jumping round took place in changing wind conditions. Kristjan Ilves reached 100 meters at the Montafoner Schanzenzentrum HS103 and took the lead with 134.4 points. Therefore, the Estonian was the first one to start into the 10 km city course this afternoon.
Rank 2 after jumping went to Thomas Rettenegger from Austria, who reached the furthest distance of the day with a hillsize jump on 103 meters (130.9 pts) and went into the course 14 seconds after Ilves.
His team mate Martin Fritz (98.5 mts, 129.2 pts) placed third, 21 seconds behind the leader.
Ilves managed to keep his pursuers at a distance for 5km before he was caught by the large group.
After 7.5 km, a total of 11 athletes, led by French Laurent Muhlethaler, went into the final lap. Martin Fritz (+0.2 sec), Jens Oftebro (+0.3 sec), Stefan Rettenegger (+0.4 sec), Kristjan Ilves (+0.5 sec), Lukas Greiderer (+0.5 sec), Einar Oftebro (+0.6 sec), Thomas Rettenegger (+0.8 sec), Espen Bjoernstad (+0.8 sec), Simon Mach (+1.1 sec) and Pascal Müller (+1.3 sec) all still had a chance of winning at this point.
After the last 2.5 km there was the ultimate showdown on the home straight as all 11 athletes started the sprint together.
In the end, Einar Luraas Oftebro narrowly beat his brother Jens, who crossed the finish line with a photo finish together with Ilves, Stefan Rettenegger, Fritz Muhlethaler and Müller.
Einar was only 0.3 seconds ahead of his brother and 0.4 seconds ahead of Ilves, who took second and third place.
With the first summer Grand Prix victory of his career, Oftebro takes the lead in the overall ranking.
SJ Results: Men Individual Gundersen HS103 – 25.8.24, Tschagguns
Overall Results: Men Individual Gundersen HS103/5km – 25.8.24, Tschagguns
