Jernej Damjan, Peter Prevc and Robert Kranjec took
a triple victory for Slovenia in Sapporo. With jumps
on 138 m and 134 m and a total of 255.0 points,
Jernej Damjan celebrated his first win in the World
Cup. Only 0.6 points behind the winner, Peter Prevc
extended his lead in the overall World Cup with
124 m and 137.5 m.
Robert Kranjec achieved his first podium result
in this Olympic season with 253.3 points (126 m
and 137 m). Damjan and Prevc were already on the
podium on Saturday in reverse order.
Neumayer and Kofler among the best
Michael Neumayer achieved his best result this season
in fourth with consistent jumps on 133.5 m and 134
m that earned him a total of 249.8 points. Andreas
Kofler, who was in the lead after the first round
with the longest jump of the day on 140 m, jumped
on 130 m in the final and came in fifth, 2.9 points
behind Neumayer.
The same fate was shared by Jan Matura, who won
twice here in Sapporo last year. The Czech shared
the top position with Kofler after the first round,
and finished seventh overall with 243.0 points.
Noriaki Kasai was the best Japanese in sixth with
245.2 points. Eisenbichler repeated his career best
of Saturday's competition and was eighth again.
Nejc Dezman was ninth and the fourth Slovene in
the Top 10.
Ito and Shimizu completed good result for Japan
Daiki Ito and Reruhi Shimizu followed in tenth and
elventh. Karl Geiger and Danny Queck achieved good
results for the German B-team in 12th and 15th.
With Yuta Watase and Taku Takeuchi in 13th and 14th,
five Japanese were among the best 15 today. Gregor
Deschwanden was 17th and the only Swiss who could
score World Cup points, Robert Johansson (19th)
was the only Norwegian in the final round. It was
a bit of a disappointing day for Manuel Fettner,
Manuel Poppinger and Wolfgang Loitzl, who probably
expected more than the places 20 to 22. With Roberto
Dellasega and Davide Bresadola two Italians could
score some World Cup points in 26th and 27th.
Prevc the overall leader
Peter Prevc now leads in the overall World Cup with
812 points, followed by Kamil Stoch (721 points).
Gregor Schlierenzauer is third with 670 points,
only 22 points ahead of Noriaki Kasai. Next weekend
the final test competitions for the Olympics in
Sochi will be held in Willingen.
Statements about competition
Jernej Damjan (SLO):
"Of course I'm more than happy, this was my
first win in the World Cup and I've waited a long
time for this to happen. I had some luck with the
wind today and I took advantage of it. We will have
to wait how it goes in the team competition in Sochi,
there you need eight good jumps and then you'll
see."
Peter Prevc (SLO):
"This was the second really good competition
here in Sapporo. The conditions were good again.
In the first jump I made a small mistake and I knew
that I have to improve my performance in the second
round. I was able to do that and I'm satisfied."
Robert Kranjec (SLO):
"I was not really lucky with the conditions
and then the inrun gate was moved down. This was
not really in my favor but I was fourth here yesterday
and third today. This is a very good position such
a short time before the Olympic Games."
