First ever 1-2 finish for Slovenia
Feb 05, 2021·Ski Jumping
Friday in Hinzenbach (AUT), Slovenian Nika Kriznar won her first World Cup, just 0.8 point ahead of teammate Ema Klinec. Eirin Maria Kvandal from Norway finished third.
Thanks to the Austrian Ski Association, an additional event was organised this weekend in Hinzenbach to replace cancellation in the World Cup planning. With good weather conditions and 70 athletes registered in the start list, this first out of three events reserved a few changes during the day.
Nika Kriznar won her first individual World Cup ever. The battle was quite tough with teammate Ema Klinec, who was leading the first round, after Sara Takanashi was disqualified. Both Slovenian posted the longest jumps with 90.5 m, each one in a different round. Kriznar eventually scored 237.4 points, just 0.8 point more than Klinec. Quite moved but delighted, she declared "I like this hill very much and I managed two very good jumps today. Our team is extremely strong at the moment, and share the podium today with Ema makes it even more special. I am really happy about my first World Cup victory." Klinec added that today was a great day for the team and that Nika really deserved this win today.
After an unexpected win in Ljubno last month and a fall last weekend in Titisee-Neustadt, Norwegian Eirin Maria Kvandal was satisfied about her third position. For Olympic champion Maren Lundby, things are still not going as expected this winter. The skis from Norwegian team didn't arrive at the aiport, and even if most of the women got supported from other nations who lent them skis, Maren Lundby didn't find appropriate skis for her and could not participate into this first competition.
Jumping in homeland, current leader Marita Kramer finished fourth and teammate Daniela Iraschko-Stolz sixth.
Russian Irina Avvakumova has done today her best performance for several years and finished fifth.Today’s world cup was also the best one so far in the individual carreer of French Josephine Pagnier with a seventh position.
Eight position was taken by multiple athletes, all scoring 210.8 points: Norwegian Silje Opseth, Slovenian Ursa Bogataj and Austrian Lisa Eder.
Celebrating her birthday today, Carina Vogt was the best German and claimed 11th position, just ahead of Katharina Althaus. In a very good shape, Vogt definitely demonstrated she was strong and back after a long injury break.
After this fifth competition, the Overall World Cup and Nations Cup rankings are changing. Marita Kramer keeps her yellow bib with 411 points but Nika Kriznar returned second. Sara Takanashi leaves the third place to Ema Klinec and ends up fourth. Slovenia takes now the lead on the Nation Cup just 5 points ahead of Austria.
The World Cup continues tomorrow on Saturday at 12.45 CET (qualification 11.30 am) CET
