Karl Geiger is this season's first winner
Nov 20, 2021·Ski Jumping
It was a very good season opener for the ski jumpers in Nizhny Tagil (RUS). Karl Geiger claimed the win in an exciting competition this evening ahead of the two top favorites for the season, Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan and Norway's Halvor Egner Granerud.
"I knew that I was jumping well in the recent weeks, but nobody really knows what that's worth before the season's first competition. Of course, it's perfect to start the winter with a win, I can't stop smiling right now", said Geiger.
It was the tenth win in the World Cup for the 28-year-old, who had also won the last two competitions of the past season in Planica last March.
The day didn't start well for the ski jumpers in Nizhny Tagil started with three positive Covid-tests (2 athletes and one coach), but it ended with a great competition on the perfectly prepared hill in the Ural Mountains.
Ryoyu Kobayashi and Halvor Egner Granerud confirmed their positions as favorites this winter in second and third. The surprise of the day was Japan's Naoki Nakamura in fourth.
Kamil Stoch was the best of the Polish team in fifth, the three-time Olympic champion lost his chances to win already in the first round in difficult conditions and with a small mistake. Markus Eisenbichler showed a convincing performance and was sixth, followed by the two Slovenes Anze Lanisek and Cene Prevc.
Surprisingly, Manuel Fettner was the best of the Austrians in 12th, after his long break due to a knee injury, Stephan Leyhe can be happy about his 14th place today. Killian Peier's comeback after his injury ended with the 16th place.
This winter's second competition starts tomorrow at 4 pm CET in Nizhny Tagil, Karl Geiger will be wearing the yellow bib as the overall World Cup leader.
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