Ruka (FIN): Riiber shatters hill record and wins Ruka Tour
Nov 26, 2023·Nordic Combined
Jarl Magnus Riiber is the winner of the Ruka Tour 2023/24 with a record breaking jump.
The first Mass Start of this FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season started with the traditional starting gun shot.
All 57 athletes, led by the top 3 of the Overall World Cup, went together in the 10 km course in Ruka (FIN).
Due to the short time gaps, there were continuous changes in lead at the front of the field.
Norwegian Joergen Graabak lead the large group after 1.1 km, followed by Jarl Magnus Riiber and Johannes Rydzek from Germany.
Soon Eero Hirvonen took over the leading work until 3.6 km, before Graabak placed himself at the front again.
A fantastic performance was shown by American Stephen Schumann, who took the lead after 5.8 km and confidently led the large field through Ruka's winter wonderland.
In icy temperatures of -17 degrees, the USA Nordic athlete even managed to open a gap to his pursuers.
Only on the last lap did the strong American, who showed one of his best performances ever in the World Cup, have to admit defeat.
Vinzenz Geiger took the lead at the 8.6 km intermediate, closely followed by his teammate Johannes Rydzek.
On the last climb it came down to an exciting head-to-head sprint between Geiger and Jens Luraas Oftebro, who didn't want to let the German get away.
Six athletes turned into the stadium together. In a tight finish sprint, Geiger beat Riiber (+0.3 sec) and Rydzek (+0.3 sec), who crossed the finish line with a photo finish. Johannes Lamparter (+0.6 sec) placed fourth.
Therefore, Geiger was the last athlete going from the bar on the Rukatunturi HS 142 this afternoon, trying to defend his lead, but couldn’t keep up with his strong opponents in the end.
With an incredible jump on 153.5 meters, Jarl Magnus Riiber, who had already jumped to 151 meters in the trial round, set a new hill record and shattered the record set in 2022 by special jumper Halvor Egner Granerud by 3 meters.
With 173.9 points, the unbeatable Norwegian not only won today’s competition but also his 4th Ruka Tour title and travels to the home events in Lillehammer in the yellow bib as Overall World Cup leader.
Second place went to Johannes Lamparter from Austria with 134.5 meters (152.2 pts), while his teammate Stefan Rettenegger (138.5 m, 145.7 pts) secured third place and thus the first World Cup podium of his career.
In the Ruka Tour Lamparter placed second behind Riiber, while Norwegian Joergen Graabak secured the third rank.
CC Results: MS Men 10 km/HS142 – 26.11.23
Overall Results: MS Men 10 km/HS142 – 26.11.23
