COC: Team Slovenia unstoppable

After they had two and even four jumpers on top recently in Erzurum (TUR), the team of Slovenia also took the two top spots in the first of two Continental Cup competitions in Brotterode (GER).

Nejc Dezman could once again confirm his currently outstanding shape and made it three in a row after his two wins in Turkey. The 24-year-old, with 117 m fourth after the first round, won the competition with 119 m in the final round and 254.5 points. "The hill was very well prepared. Today everything was fine: The conditions, the weather and the audience", said the winner.

His teammate Miran Zupancic was the best athlete in the first round with 118.5 m. His second jump of 115.5 m and a total of 253.8 points were enough for a second place finish close behind the winner.

The third place on the podium went to Joakim Aune of Norway, who jumped on 117 m in both rounds and scored a total of 249.3 points. "The atmosphere was great and the conditions were totally fair. Brotterode is always a highlight", said the Norwegian.

Czech veteran Jan Matura was only 13th after the first round, but with 122.5 m he then had the longest jump of the day in the final. This performance earned the 37-year-old the fourth place, only 2.6 points behind the podium.

Klemens Muranka had a strong second jump as well, could move up from tenth to fifth and was the best Pole in this competition. Jaka Hvala, second after the first half of the competition, came in sixth and the third Slowene among the best 10 today.

Florian Altenburger of Austria and Roman Trofimov of Russia tied for seventh. Altenburger's teammate Daniel Huber (9th) and the best of the Germans, Martin Hamann (10th) completed the Top 10 on the Inselberg-hill.

The two Slovenes Miran Zupancic (675 points) and Nejc Dezman (656 points) lead the overall ranking of the Continental Cup ahead of Austria's Clemens Aigner (521 points).