After jumping, hopes for the first World Cup podium of the winter were high. But 17-year-old Nathalie Armbruster cannot break through the Norwegian phalanx in Lillehammer.
Unsurprisingly, the dominator Gyda Westvold Hansen confidently prevailed at the Nordic Combined in Lillehammer. The Norwegian won her eleventh race in a row across the season ahead of her compatriots Mille Marie Hagen and Mari Leinan Lund.
The German combined athletes recorded their best placement with Nathalie Armbruster in sixth place. The 17-year-old crossed the finish line in seventh place on Friday.
Armbruster within striking distance of the podium
The German combined athletes had a good chance of a podium place after jumping in Lillehammer. Svenja Würth came third as the best German on the normal hill. As a former ski jumping specialist, however, it was clear that she would not be able to maintain this place in the 5km cross-country skiing race.
Armbruster was in sixth place and only 38 seconds behind Würth. Last year’s starter showed a small improvement at the start on Friday when, after a moderate jump, she moved up to seventh place at the end.
Armbruster has podium in his sights for a short time
As expected, Armbruster moved up to third place on the first 2.5 kilometer lap – together with the strong Norwegian Ida Marie Hagen. That same Hagen shook off Armbruster before the finish and made the Norwegian triple success perfect.
“I once had a small spark of hope. But it was too difficult to stick with Ida. I left too many seeds behind,” Armbruster told ZDF about her race. Würth was thrown back to eighth place.
Armbruster gains “confidence in himself”
Her strong running performance this weekend gives Armbruster “confidence in herself and validates the work she’s done at home.” Jenny Nowak, who entered the trail in seventh place directly behind Armbruster, ended up in ninth place. Maria Gerboth finished tenth.
National coach Aichinger “proud” of the result
“I’m proud,” said national coach Florian Aichinger in view of four German runners in the top 10: “We try to push ourselves every day and at some point we will beat the Norwegians.”