Sara Takanashi dominates season opener

Sara Takanashi took a clear win in the first ladies' competition of the FIS Grand Prix 2018 in Hinterzarten (GER) on Saturday afternoon.

The 21-year-old Japanese, who already won the qualification on the day before, showed the best jumps in both rounds with 105 m and 103 m and was clearly the best today with 254.4 points. This was already her 20th win in the Grand Prix, but the first individual win in Hinterzarten. "I had some luck and could show two good jumps again. The hill in Hinterzarten suits me and I really enjoy jumping here", said the winner.

Yuki Ito posted the longest jump of the day in the first round with 105.5 m, but she had clearly better wind conditions than Takanashi. In the final round, the 24-year-old then landed at 99.5 m and secured the 1-2 finish for Japan with 234.8 points and the second place. "Having the longest jump of the day and standing on the podium together with Sara makes this day very special. In the first round, I had some luck with the wind, but my jumps were also good today. It's good for me, that my main training center is now in Bischofshofen, because now it feels almost like coming home after the competitions. Now I'm looking forward to the weekend in Courchevel", said Yuki Ito.

The third place went to Germany's Ramona Straub, who achieved her first ever podium finish in a Grand Prix event with jumps of 93 m and 95.5 m and a total of 214.7 points. "This is the best thing that could have happened. I'm so happy that I could finish on the podium here in front of my family and friends. The wind conditions were very difficult today and I didn't expect to be on the podium", told Ramona Straub.

Her teammate Katharina Althaus finished fourth, only 2 points behind. The strong team result of the hosts was completed by Juliane Seyfarth in eighth and Pauline Hessler in 12th.

Chiara Hoelzl and Jacqueline Seifriedsberger of Austria finished fifth and seventh, the best Slovene today was Ema Klinec in sixth. Yuka Seto was ninth and the third Japanese athlete in the Top 10. The tenth place went to Ursa Bogataj of Slovenia, who was en route to the podium after the first half of the competition when she was third behind Takanashi and Ito.

The next ladies' competition of the FIS Grand Prix 2018 will take place on August 10th in Courchevel (FRA).