Double victory day for Julian Schmid in Park City
Dec 14, 2020·Nordic Combined
Germany’s Julian Schmid made it two victories in one day, winning the final event of the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup opener on the Olympic venue at Soldier Hollow in the USA. Schmid held off a strong charge to the finish from teammate Jakob Lange. Schmid had won the Mass Start earlier in the day. Germany’s David Mach came from behind to make it a German sweep.
After the three event opener in Utah, defending champion Jakob Lange held the Continental Cup lead 260-236 over Schmid. American Niklas Malacinski is third.
After a strong jump performance, Austria and the USA led early in the 10k race before the Germans, led by Schmid and Lange, came to the front in the second of five laps. The two broke away in the final lap and battled head-to-head to the finish.
“It was just a great day today and I'm really happy with the two wins,” said Schmid. “I tried to do a normal competition day and do my best as a whole and also on the track.”
Schmid was keenly aware of his teammate in the final 100 meters. “It was really close but I think it was a fair battle to the finish line.”
