This will be a hot race on the cross-country ski trail: high-flyer Jarl-Magnus Riiber will only go into the track as a hunter – and the German combined athletes still have a chance thanks to the new format.
Eric Frenzel is still waiting for his first win as head coach. On the second day in Ramsau am Dachstein it could definitely work. After jumping, everything is still possible – and that’s not because of the best distances on the hill, but because of the new “Compact Race” format.
How far is Rydzek moving forward?
From a German perspective, when the athletes go on the trail for 7.5 km from 3:30 p.m., Johannes Rydzek has the best cards. As 14th place after jumping (91 meters), the veteran would normally be hopeless behind, but the new competition format leaves all chances open.
In the “Compact Race” the distance is not important. The only thing that counts is the placement. The time intervals are specified. The first person in the jump – no matter how far he has jumped – goes onto the trail just six seconds before the runner-up, and after 90 seconds all athletes are on the track.
Rydzek is only 46 seconds behind jump winner Thomas Rettenegger from Austria and has wonderful company in Joergen Graabak from Norway (+40 seconds). High-flyer Jarl-Magnus Riiber (Norway) is surprisingly only in the role of the hunter. He takes up the chase in second place, six seconds after Rettenegger.
Schmid and Geiger are weakening again
The best German jumper was once again Manuel Faißt, who secured Germany’s first podium finish this winter on Friday. At 93 meters he goes into the trail in eighth place (+33 seconds), but is not considered the fastest on the route.
Wendelin Thannheimer had a dream jump of 94.5 meters – the distance was enough for twelfth place. Terence Weber (SSV Geyer/90.5 m) and David Mach (SC Buchenberg/90 m) also start around the same time as Rydzek.
Julian Schmid (89.5 m) and Vinzenz Geiger (85.5 m) benefited from the new format. Without the race format, both would be more than two minutes behind, so they are around 60 seconds behind the best on the hill.
Sommerfeldt was a little behind
Noko talent Tristan Sommerfeldt from WSC Erzgebirge Oberwiesenthal, who won three medals at the Junior World Championships in the spring, already has a big backpack to carry, 1:25 minutes behind.