Yukiya Sato surprises in Nizhny Tagil with maiden World Cup win
Dec 07, 2019·Ski Jumping
Yukiya Sato provided a major surprise at the Ski Jumping World Cup in Nizhny Tagil (RUS) and claimed his first-ever World Cup win. Sato jumped on 126.5 m and 132 m (251.6 points) and came in ahead of Germany's Karl Geiger (130 m and 130 m; 250.1 points) and Philipp Aschenwald of Austria (129 m and 129 m; 249.4 points).
So far the third place in Zakopane last winter was the career-best for Sato. With his first win today, the Japanese joined the top names in Ski Jumping. The top result of Team Japan was completed by Ryoyu Kobayashi and Daiki Ito in sixth and eleventh.
With the 1-2 finish of Taku Takeuchi and Keiichi Sato in the COC in Vikersund earlier today it was an excellent day for the Japanese.
The second place went to Karl Geiger, who was finally able to clinch the first podium for the new head coach of the German jumpers, Stefan Horngacher. After today's success, Geiger is now also in a promising position in the overall World Cup in fourth. "I think it worked out really well for me today. I had a good start into the season and of course I hope that it will continue like that for me this winter", Geiger explained after the competition.
Philipp Aschenwald was third and already achieved his second podium this winter. Aschenwald is currently presenting himself in a very strong shape and, in third, he is the best Austrian in the overall World Cup. "I don't know what to say! I've gained self-confidence in Finland and showed that here, all the jumps were really cool. The season is still long and you also always need a bit of luck to win but I'm really satisfied with my performance today and my shape is good", said Aschenwald.
The competition in Nizhny Tagil was also a competition of the veterans, who came close to their best days this evening.
Peter Prevc posted a spectacular jump in the first round that earned him the half-time lead, with a smal mistake in the final round he finished eighth. As he told later, he was nervous before his second jump, but still the Slovene showed a strong performance and proved that he is on his way back to the top.
Gregor Schlierenzauer also showed a strong performance. The 53-time World Cup winner of Austria celebrated his second jump like he did in his best days. It was the longest jump of the second round (133.5 m) and earned him the fourth place today - top.
Everything now seems possible again for Schlierenzauer and Prevc, it's remarkable how they fought their way back.
Gregor Schlierenzauer: "I'm super happy, especially the second jump was really cool. Jumping close to the hill size again and finishing fourth is very satisfying. Congratulations to Philipp, it was a strong team performance again - it can continue like that."
Besides Aschenwald and Schlierenzauer, Stefan Kraft also finished in the Top 10 in seventh. It was a very good day for Austria in Nizhny Tagil.
Poland's Piotr Zyla was second after the first round, but he lost a lot of ground in the final and finished only 24th. In the end, Dawid Kubacki (5th) and Kamil Stoch (9th) were the best of the Polish team today. The big Ski Jumping nation Poland is probably not satisfied with how this winter went so far.
Daniel Andre Tande of Norway, who won this winter's first two competitions in Wisla and Ruka, came in only 21st today, but still remains in the lead of the overall World Cup with 210 points. He is followed by Slovenia's Anze Lanisek, who was 14th today.
The second competition in Nizhny Tagil starts on Sunday at 3:30 pm CET (7:30 pm LOC).
