Kobayashi on top again
Jan 22, 2023·Ski Jumping
Local hero Ryoyu Kobayashi won the thrilling final of the ski jumping World Cup weekend in Sapporo (JPN) on Sunday. Kobayashi, who is at home in Sapporo, found back on the winning track after a so far messed up winter with two wins and and a third place (Saturday). Halvor Egner Granerud and Markus Eisenbichler finished second and third on Sunday.
Sunday in Sapporo was the exciting end to a successful weekend for the ski jumpers. After a two-year break, the world's best ski jumpers can chalk up their return to Japan as a complete success.
With Ryoyu Kobayashi's brilliant victory on Sunday, last winter's overall World Cup winner is finally back in the race for daily victories and records.
"I am overjoyed about this weekend here in Sapporo. My jumps are getting better and better and of course I had the necessary luck here," explained Kobayashi, who was able to catch the Norwegian Granerud, who was leading after round one, with an outstanding final jump.
Kobayashi flew 143 metres in the final and three times he got the score 20 for his magic jump, which secured him the victory in the end.
World Cup victory number 29 and - much more important - the awareness that after an extremely unsatisfactory first part of the winter, the old, the almost unbeatable Ryoyu Kobayashi is back.
With his success today, Kobayashi made up four places in the overall World Cup. Kobayashi now ranks 7th in the overall World Cup with 421 points, 743 points behind the leader Dawid Kubacki (11th place today).
Before this weekend Kobayashi was in 21st place with 161 points, so anything is still possible in the course of the following winter.
Halvor Egner Granerud extremely strong again - and self-confident
But also 4 HT tour winner Halvor Egner Granerud presented himself once again as strong as an ox.
Leading after round one, only beaten by high-flyer Kobayashi, Granerud also made it to the podium not only today but on all three days in Sapporo - extra class.
"Two good jumps and a great result for me, I am completely satisfied with the competition today.
At the moment I am the closest chaser of Dawid Kubacki in the overall World Cup, my goal is to take the yellow bib from Dawid next weekend at ski flying at Kulm", Granerud said aggressively.
Markus Eisenbichler finally on the podium
Markus Eisenbichler was exuberant about third place.
"I'm really happy about my jumps and that result today, it's been a while since I could stand on the podium. I hope I can make further steps in this direction in the coming weeks", Eisenbichler was pleased to say, securing only the second podium finish for the German team this winter. "I was just relaxed today, that's what I had planned, yesterday I wasn't relaxed enough. Yesterday it was really hard for me to have missed the final", Eisenbichler said.
Domen Prevc convinced as best Slovenian on rank four and signalised at the same time that he will be counted on at the ski flying next weekend as well as his team mate Peter Prevc (rank 6 today), Anze Lanisek (rank 9 today) and Timi Zajc (rank 10 today).
Johann Forfang was convincing on 5th place as well as Daniel Tschofenig as best Austrian on 7th place and Piotr Zyla on 8th place.
Gregor Deschwanden can be satisfied with rank 20 today after ranks 10 and 15 on Friday and Saturday. A successful weekend for the currently best Swiss. Kilian Peter was happy about 30th place.
In the overall World Cup Dawid Kubacki is still leading, the Pole has 1164 points on his account, Granerud is now 48 points (1116) behind Kubacki.
The World Cup continues next weekend in Bad Mitterndorf / Kulm with two ski flying events.
)
