Eric Frenzels winning streak goes on! - NordicFocus
Ramsau am Dachstein's Individual Gundersen competition went to Eric Frenzel. The German claimed his third win this season 5.3 seconds ahead of Haavard Klemetsen (NOR). The podium was completed by Mikko Kokslien (NOR).
In ski jumping, Klemetsen reigned supreme again. The 34-year-old veteran jumped 96,5 metres and in slightly varying wind conditions over the whole round, this meant 134,8 points and the pole position for the cross-country race. German youngster Tobias Haug claimed the leader board for most of the ski jumping round, only having to make space for Klemetsen in the end. Haug showed strong 95 metres and with a total of 133,1 points this meant 7 seconds of time behind to Klemetsen. Breathing down their necks was Frenzel who claimed an intermediate rank three with 94,5 metres and set himself up for the race with only eight seconds of time disadvantage.
Jason Lamy Chappuis and Jørgen Graabak did not have good jumps. The Frenchman landed at 87 metres which meant an intermediate 35th rank and Graabak had an unsuccessful attempt of only 81 metres. As the differences between jumpers were not so big on the small hill, Lamy Chappuis started with a time behind of +1:17 and Graabak with the wave start at +1:50.
The longest jump of the competition went to Yoshito Watabe who jumped 98 metres but was not able to set a full telemark which cost him style points. In the end, the ranked fifth after the jump.
In the race, a big leading group consisting of up to ten athletes formed quickly after the first 2,5 kilometre lap. A pursuing group containing the fast skiers Magnus Krog, Mario Stecher, Fabian Rießle and Mikko Kokslien also formed quite quickly but were about 17 seconds behind the leaders until the last lap when all of the athletes gave everything in the fight for positions.
In the end, Frenzel managed to open up a gap on the last lap and skied an undisputed victory into the finish while Norwegians Klemetsen, Kokslien and Krog as well as Japan's Akito Watabe and Gemany's Fabian Rießle sprinted for the remaining podium places. Klemetsen and Kokslien were the strongest ones, making it the second double podium for Norway in two days. Rießle on six and Rydzek on ten completed a good German team result, as the German team, like the Norwegians, managed to place three athletes in the Top Ten. Lukas Klapfer saved the Austrian honour on rank eight.
Now, the Nordic Combined World Cup will move to Schonach, Germany for one last pre-Christmas stop before heading to the depths of Russia after New Year.
