Johannes Rydzek dominates the SGP
of 2014 - Sandra Volk
The summer of 2014 is developing into a showcase
period for the German Ski Federation: The first
competition in Oberstdorf saw a triple German victory
again. Local hero Johannes Rydzek had a start finish
victory, and enough time to cross the finish line
waving a German flag. He finished a whopping 41.2
seconds ahead of teammate Eric Frenzel who in turn
beat Bjo"rn Kircheisen for the second rank.
Kircheisen finished 47.3 seconds after Rydzek.
Local hero Johannes Rydzek delighted the audience
already in the ski jumping part by taking the intermediate
lead with a great effort of 133.5 metres which meant
138.9 points and a 19-second-lead on teammate Eric
Frenzel who jumped 131.5 metres. France’s Maxime
Laheurte found back to old jumping strength by also
setting 131.5 metres and started at the same time
of +0:25 seconds as Austrian veteran Christoph Bieler
who landed at 130 metres.
Russian jumping expert Evgeniy Klimov set the absolutely
longest jump of the day with sensational 139.5 metres
but wasn’t able to stand his jump. Still he ranked
fifth with a time behind of 29 seconds on Rydzek.
Overall runner-up Bjo"rn Kircheisen showed
another great jumping effort with 128.5 metres and
followed Rydzek on the track at a time behind of
0:48 seconds.
The steady downpour fell through much of the competition
and continued when the Cross-Country race got underway,
but it did little to dampen the German’s resolve.
The rest of the pack had no chance to catch Rydzek
who took full advantage of his massive head start
after his strong jumping effort.
Finishing well behind Rydzek, normally around a
minute off the pace, was a chasing pack of ten athletes,
all of whom battled the slippery and soggy conditions
and had no chance to challenge Rydzek to make up
any time. The leaders of the chasing pack changed
with each lap, but in the end, Frenzel and Kircheisen,
perhaps motivated by the home crowd, pulled ahead
to claim the last two podium spots.
Summer Grand Prix action in Oberstdorf continues
tomorrow when the Final Individual Gundersen with
two jumps and a 15 km race for the top 30 athletes
begins at 18:00.