Vinzenz Geiger won the World Cupotia victory in the Nordic combination. Because the leading one to date in the overall ranking, Jarl Magnus Riiber, brings up two races early before the end of the season.
Originally, the Norwegian only wanted to end his career with the last race of the season in Finland, now he decided differently shortly before the start of the second race on the Holmenkollen on Sunday (March 16, 2025). Riiber will no longer contest the races in Lahti and thus also gives off the overall World Cup. Riiber is forced to end a career at the end of only 27 due to a chronic bowel disease.
The now worst pursuers of Vinzenz Geiger in the overall ranking are too far behind and can no longer catch up in the remaining competitions. The Finn Ilkka Herola secured the victory in Oslo, who was allowed to be at the top of the podium for the first time in the World Cup. Geiger got second place, Johannes Lamparter from Austria finished third.
Due to the surprising announcement by Riiber, the race almost decreased. Spracheher Herola put a pace from the start and shook his only pursuer Franz-Josef Rehrl after a little more than three kilometers. This is how a group of five, which also belonged to violinist, formed behind him. Rehrl and the Frenchman Laurent Mühlethaler later fell off, so Geiger, Lamparter and Stefan Rettenegger made second place among themselves.
Riiber celebrates his farewell
RiiBber first put pressure further in the field, ran forward from 21 to eight, only to suddenly take pace out and drop at the end of the field. He enjoyed his farewell to the fullest and was given a cardboard crown shortly before the finish. At the finish line, all opponents had gathered and received the 78-time World Cup winner with a champagne shower.
Due to its premature end of career and leaving the struggle for overall victory, it remains in his trophy cabinet with five large crystal balls. With another victory, he would have had the chance to become the sole record winner. So he stays at the top with Eric Frenzel. He also won eleven world championship titles. Only Olympic gold was denied one of the – if not the best combiner in history.
Riiber fails in jumping – Herola with a record
There were several surprises when jumping at noon. First of all, from the Finn Ilkka Herola, who set up a new ski jump record on the collen at 146 meters. And then also the leap of the World Cup: In the event of difficult conditions, Geiger came up with a decent 126 meters, but riiber landed at 110.5 meters and only lined up in 90th place. A completely unfamiliar position for the Norwegian, which shouldn’t matter to him that day.
Fixed intervals in the individual compact
In contrast to Gundersen, only 7.5 instead of 10 kilometers are run in the individual compact. In return, the time intervals between the starters are fixed and do not calculate from the points for the jump, but result from the placement.