Oberstdorf (GER): Home victory for Schmid
Feb 05, 2023·Nordic Combined
Franz-Josef Rehrl was in the lead after the Ski Jumping competition in Oberstdorf (GER) this morning.
In minus degrees and sunshine the Austrian jumped the furthest distance of the day with 143 meters (163.1 pts) at the Schattenbergschanze HS137 and took the lead. Therefore, he was the first one to start into the 10 km at the Ried cross-country stadium this afternoon.
Rank 2 after jumping went to Overall World Cup leader Johannes Lamparter, who landed at 132 meters (148.9 pts) and went into the course 57 seconds after his team mate.
Germanys local hero Julian Schmid (134 mts, 147.6 pts) placed third, 1:02 minutes behind the leader.
Due to his big lead, Rehrl ran a lonely race at the top.
Meanwhile, Schmid was able to close the gap to Lamparter in the first lap, closely followed by Best Skier Jens Luraas Oftebro, who caught up with the other two pursuers after just 1.4 km.
Rehrl was able to extend his lead after 2.5km, while the pursuers, led by Oftebro (+59.2 sec), started the second lap together. Mario Seidl (+1:01 min) also joined the group and the fight for the podium places, but was not able to follow the high pace for long.
Due to the course layout in the Ried cross-country stadium, Rehrl could watch his pursuers, Oftebro, Lamparter and Schmid, who worked their way up to 47 seconds after 5km.
Rehrl continued to fight at the front, even if the distance to the pursuers, led by Schmid at this point, was only 33 seconds after 6.4 km.
On the last climb, the notorious Burgstall, Rehrl was no longer able to defend his lead and was caught, so that all four athletes entered the stadium together.
Under the thunderous cheers of four thousand spectators, it all came down to an exciting finish sprint, in which Schmid was able to assert himself on home soil.
With an impressive performance, he took the win 0.7sec ahead of Oftebro and Rehrl (+1sec), while Overall World Cup leader Lamparter (+1.1sec) lost to his teammate and finished fourth.
The Austrian remains in the lead in the German Trophy before the grand finale in Schonach next week.
SJ Results: IG Men HS137/10km – 5.2.23 Oberstdorf
Results: IG Men HS137/10km – 5.2.23 Oberstdorf
