COC: Hugo Buffard storms to victory in Høydalsmo

There was no stopping Hugo Buffard on the cross-country track in Høydalsmo today when the Frenchman took his first Continental Cup victory in an impressive cross-country race.

Starting from a 40th rank after ski jumping which is not Buffard’s strongest suit, the 22-year-old flew through the field. With only 81 metres and 99.4 points, he had one minute and 55 seconds to make up and edged out yesterday’s winner Truls Johansen (NOR) by a foot’s breadth in the end. One second parted Johansen and Buffard at the finish line and Buffard set the by far fastest cross-country time of 22:45.9.

„I really believed I would manage to win also today“, Johansen said, „but suddenly I saw this this French leg next to me on the finish line. I almost couldn’t believe it. I really didn’t think Buffard was the man to look out for today as he was one full minute behind me at the start of the race.“

Third-placed Martin Fritz from Austria, who manage to ski a much stronger cross-country race today and captured the remaining podium spot, was also flabbergasted with Buffard’s stroke of genius „I was very disappointed about yesterday when I didn’t manage to hold on to the leading group. Today, it went much better even if I really have difficulties to believe it when I saw Buffard coming by with bib number 40. This is just crazy!“

And the winner? He was almost as incredulous as his competitors: „I didn’t believe I could win today. I am in good cross-country shape. After four of five rounds, I thought, hey it’s not so far till the leading group and so I just decided to go for it!“

World Cup veterans Lukas Runggaldier and Jan Schmid ended up on positions four and five, the Top Ten were completed by Sinde Ure Søtvik, Michael Dünkel, Lukas Greiderer, Harald Riiber and David Welde.

For the overall standings, this means Go Yamamoto, who was starting in the World Cup on this weekend, is still in the lead with 260 points, Martin Fritz now holds 210 and Tobias Simon who was also present in Lahti this weekend is still third with 190 points.