COC: 6 nations reach the podium in Lillehammer (NOR)

The first Continental Cup of the Nordic Combined season 2023/24 takes place this weekend in Lillehammer (NOR).

In the women's race, 23 athletes from 8 nations took part.

Anne Häckel from Germany jumped the furthest distance of the day with 90 meters (117.7 pts) in the morning at the Lysgårdsbakken HS 98 and took the lead. Therefore, she was the first one to start into the 5 km cross-country race in the afternoon.

Rank 2 after jumping went to Minja Korhonen from Finland, who landed at 86.5 meters (110.7 pts) and went into the course 28 seconds after Häckel.

Norwegian Ingrid Laate (82.5 mts, 104.4 pts) placed third 53 seconds behind the leader.

Korhonen showed an impressive performance on cross-country skis and took the first Continental Cup victory of her career.

Second place went to Austria's Lisa Hirner (+16.9 sec), who was fourth after Ski Jumping, while Annika Malacinski from the USA (+53.4 sec) secured third place.

SJ Results: Women IG HS98/5km – 8.12.23, Lillehammer
Overall Results: Women IG HS98/5km – 8.12.23, Lillehammer

In the men's category, Richard Stenzel was in the lead after Ski Jumping. The German reached the longest distance of the day with 94.5 m and collected 122.5 points.

Florian Kolb from Austria (94 m, 122.5 pts) took second place, almost tied with Stenzel, so the two started the 10km race together.
In third place was Jakob Lange from Germany with 93 m and 121.8 points, just 3 seconds behind the leaders.

Nine athletes went into the course within the first 30 seconds, so a close fight for victory could be expected.

Lange, who is known for his strong skiing performance, showed another flawless race and secured the victory in the first Continental Cup of the season.
With an impressive sprint, he left his competitors behind on the home straight and won 5.4 seconds ahead of Aleksander Skoglund from Norway and Gael Blondaeu (+9.1 seconds) from France.

With six nations on the podium, the first Continental Cup of the season was a great success.

SJ Results: Men IG HS98/10km – 8.12.23, Lillehammer
Overall Results: Men IG HS98/10km – 8.12.23, Lillehammer