Maren Lundby keeps on winning
Feb 03, 2019·Ski Jumping
Norway's Maren Lundby is unbeatable in the Ladies' World Cup right now. The Olympic champion claimed her fifth win in a row on Sunday on the HS 90 hill in Hinzenbach (AUT). With jumps of 90 m and 88.5 m (250.8 points), Lundby came in clearly ahead of Sara Takanashi of Japan (88 m and 89 m; 241.2 points) and Katharina Althaus.
This was the 19th World Cup win for the 24-year-old. "I am very happy about my second victory in Hinzenbach. This is my 5th victory in a row so it looks like my jumps are really good now and my form is consistent just three weeks ahead of World Championships. I am really excited about the team event in Ljubno next week, we have a strong, competitive team. It is great that FIS and WSC organizers put their trust in us and we will get a chance to fight for medals in a ladies team event in Seefeld as well", said Lundby.
Sara Takanashi convinced in second today: "I am very happy to be on the podium again, even though I have had no victory this season yet. The other girls are jumping really well, and the competition is at a very high level. My technique is getting better from jump to jump and that is really important now, I will do my best to be back on top of the podium as soon as possible. I am really looking forward to the team competition in Ljubno next weekend. I also hope we can win a medal in the team event in Seefeld."
Katharina Althaus was not completely satisfied with today's result: "It wasn’t my best weekend, but still two podium places are good results. I know I can jump better so I hope I can show better jumps in Ljubno. It is great that the ladies will get a chance to compete in a team event at the WSC in Seefeld. We have a very strong team so obviously, we do hope to win a medal there."
Katharina Althaus was not the only German athlete with a convincing performance today as Juliane Seyfarth was fourth, Carina Vogt sixth, Anna Rupprecht 15th, Ramona Straub 20th, and Svenja Wuerth 21st.
Chiara Hoelzl came in fifth for Austria, Eva Pinkelnig was tenth. The Russian athletes showed a strong performance as well. They didn't achieve a top result but presented themselves as a strong team with Alexandra Kustova in 11th, Sofia Tikhonova in 13th and Lidiia Iakovleva in 14th. Besides the winner Maren Lundby, also Anna Odine Stroem achieved a top result for Norway in ninth, Silje Opseth was 16th.
Maren Lundby has a clear lead in the overall World Cup with 988 points. Katharina Althaus (867 points) and Juliane Seyfarth (641 points) follow in second and third.
The Ladies' World Cup continues next weekend with three competitions (2 individual, 1 team) in Ljubno (SLO). Saturday's team event will be especially interesting there because it will be the final test for the team event at the World Championships in Seefeld.
