Nordic combined: Lamparter goes for World Cup crowning

Riiber’s current dream form plays into Lamparter’s cards. Because the Norwegian, who won four gold medals in four competitions at the World Championships, would also take important points away from the competition from the Tyrolean with victories in Lahti and Oslo. “I’m looking forward to the last two stops in Oslo and Lahti – I definitely have a big goal there, to keep the yellow jersey on my shoulders. The way Jarl is doing, he takes away the big points, that’s not so bad for me,” said Lamparter after the conciliatory World Cup finish with bronze from the large hill behind Riiber and his compatriot Jens Luraas Oftebro.

The latter is 121 points behind his closest World Cup rival, German Julian Schmid is already 186 points behind. “It will be a tough fight between Jens, Julian and me. If someone leaves out at some point, then it goes very quickly. I have to make sure that I get my performance, then I hope that I can bring it home.”

Rettenegger trumps

In addition to the dethroned world champion Lamparter, the ÖSV now has another youngster in Stefan Rettenegger, who could have a say in events in the coming years. The also 21-year-old trumped in his World Championship debut with places seven and five, and like Lamparter he was happy about bronze in the team and in mixed. “I have two medals at my first World Championships, that was really cool,” said Rettenegger, who is enjoying his good running form. “That suits me extremely. I’ve always been able to go full throttle.”

Mario Stecher can expect a lot from the Lamparter/Rettenegger duo in the coming years. “We have two absolute top guys who are very young. One has already won a lot. Rettenegger is aspiring, he is at a similar level in cross-country skiing as Johannes and still has great possibilities in jumping, which is very positive for the future,” says the sports director for combined and jumping in the ÖSV.

But in order to be able to challenge the outstanding Riiber, both would have to get the absolute best out of it. “That didn’t quite work out here on the hill. If you look in the direction of the overall World Cup, Jo (Lamparter, note) has the best chance of winning,” explained Stecher. Franz-Josef Rehrl, who fell ill during the World Cup, is returning to the team for Oslo. Mario Seidl, on the other hand, is still missing and has ended his season prematurely due to health problems.

Westvold-Hansen is fighting for the perfect season

The women’s overall World Cup has long been decided. For the Norwegian Gyda Westvold-Hansen it is about the perfect season at home in Oslo, the Norwegian has won all nine World Cup competitions so far as well as the World Championship competition. The last competition of the season lasts three days for the women. On Thursday (6.15 p.m.) there will be a normal jump, the 5 km cross-country skiing is scheduled for Saturday (1.30 p.m.).

After their return from the World Championships, the Austrians kept themselves in good shape in a Continental Cup doubles match in Eisenerz, where Claudia Purker impressed with two thirds. Lisa Hirner had to pass because of an illness, the Styrian only started training again on Monday. “The goal is to fight towards the podium, where we were regularly in the first half of the season,” said ÖSV head coach Bernhard Aicher. The ÖSV squad will then conclude their season on the last weekend in March at the Continental Cup in Oberwiesenthal.