Three-time defending World Cup
champion Hannu Manninen claimed his first victory
of the season at Ruhpolding's 15-km Gundersen on
Saturday.
Manninen pipped home-favourites Sebastian Haseney
and Ronny Ackermann in a fight to the line.
The 28-year-old finished in a time of 35 minutes
and 58.1 beating second-place Haseney to the finish
by just 1.2 seconds.
Ackermann and American Bill Demong were even for
third at 2.7 seconds off pace.
Olympic silver medallist Felix Gottwald finished
fifth and his Austrian compatriot Christoph Bieler,
the current world number one, sixth.
Olympic champion Georg Hettich was a disappointing
17th.
The victory moves the Finn from fifth to third in
the World Cup standings behind World Cup leader
Christoph Bieler and Norway's Magnus Moan.
"I think this gives me good confidence for
the next races and of course now I get my first
victory this season and I hope this will open my
way," Manninen told Eurosport after the race.
At the same point in the season last year Manninen
had already won four races on his way to 12 total
victories.
Ruhpolding was a replacement venue for races that
were originally scheduled for Oberhof, but were
cancelled due to lack of snow and warm temperatures.
