Nordic combination: Geiger is just ahead after the mass start

Vinzenz Geiger is just ahead in the mass start race in Ruka. Now the Olympic champion has to maintain his lead on the hill.

Will there be the first German World Cup victory in the Nordic Combined at the third attempt? In the mass start race on Sunday in the icy Ruka, Vinzenz Geiger won ahead of Jörgen Graabak and Johannes Rydzek.

Geiger leads – is that enough to win the day?

However, the distances are extremely small. Geiger, who had problems on the hill on Friday and Saturday, is only 0.6 seconds ahead of his two pursuers. All three delivered a final sprint in the last meters of the ten kilometers.

The mass start is the third variant to be held this weekend in Ruka, Finland. Normally it starts with jumping, but on Sunday the order will be swapped. This represents an advantage for the strong jumpers, as it is difficult for the athletes to break away from the peloton after the mass start and get a big lead.

Four Germans have their sights set on the podium

Overall, the DSV team around new coach Erik Frenzel has a good starting position for jumping on the large hill at midday (1:35 p.m.). Julian Schmid in sixth (1.6 seconds behind) and Manuel Faißt in eleventh (5.9 seconds) are still within striking distance of Geiger.

The inexperienced Wendelin Thannheimer (15th place), David Mach (16th) and Tristan Sommerfeldt (18th) are also doing well, only the strong jumper Terence Weber is already more than a minute behind in 33rd place.

No German podium on Friday and Saturday

On Saturday Weber, who confirmed his good performance from Friday and sailed to 142.5 meters, started the pursuit in third place after the jump, but then fell back. Meanwhile, Julian Schmid ran past Weber in the Gundersen race (classic technique on the cross-country ski trail) and came fifth, the best German.

Geiger managed to establish a good starting position on both days. The Oberstdorfer, who was still in poor health, was unable to reach top ranks after weaker jumps. He will be the last to leave the Bakken on Sunday.

Rydzek fourth in the “Compact Race”

At the premiere of the newly introduced “Compact Race” on Friday, Rydzek narrowly missed the podium in fourth place after a strong race to catch up. The Norwegian Jens Luras Oftebro secured victory ahead of his compatriots Riiber and Graabak.