Geiger pips Schmid in dramatic Compact finish in Lillehammer
Dec 08, 2024·Nordic Combined
Vinzenz Geiger recovered from a difficult day in the Gundersen to pip German team-mate Julian Schmid in a photo finish in Sunday’s Compact and claim his second victory of the men’s Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season in Lillehammer.
Geiger, who won the Ruka Trophy a week ago after three podium finishes in Finland, including a win in the Mass Start event, could only manage 29th in Saturday’s Gundersen after a below-par effort in the ski jumping.
But after starting the Compact cross-country 26 seconds behind overall leader Jan Magnus Riiber, who put himself in pole position by earning 167.9 points from a jump of 139.5 meters on the large hill, Geiger proved the strongest in a sprint finish with Schmid.
Riiber said prior to the cross-country that his mission was “just to survive” with so many “blood-thirsty” competitors in hot pursuit.
So it proved as Schmid and Johannes Lamparter (AUT) caught the five-time champion inside the first five minutes on the opening lap.
Riiber settled into the middle of a six-man lead group, also containing Austrian duo Thomas Rettenegger and Franz-Josef Rehrl and Geiger, but hit the front again as they entered the second half of the race.
As Rehrl lost touch, the front five were all within 1.5 seconds before Schmid took it on at the front to break clear with Riiber and Geiger on the final lap.
As they came into the finish, Riiber appeared to realise the others were stronger and eased back as Geiger and Schmid duelled it out to the finish. Both men were given the same time of 17:44.0, with Riiber 1.9 seconds back in third.
“It was a really hard race, with the group behind us also really close,” said Schmid, who earned his fourth podium of the season after also finishing second behind Riiber in Saturday’s Gundersen.
“We were trying to get good speed at the end and it was a dramatic sprint in the last 500m. It was really close, a really tight fight, and that is what we need in our sport.”
Riiber retains the overall lead in the World Cup standings, with a 30-point advantage over Schmid in second, and 58 clear of Geiger in third, despite having to settle for third – his 102nd World Cup podium - after his victory in the Gundersen.
“It is a tough fight at the start of the season and that is good,” he said. “Of course it would be more fun to be on top, but considering my preparation before this week, a first place and a third place - I am very happy with that.”
Earlier, under blue skies and clear conditions with little wind compared to the opening two days of competition, Lillehammer was treated to a series of big jumps on the HS140 large hill.
Thomas Rettenegger (AUT - above) soared to 140.5 meters – the furthest jump of the day – to score 164.1 points before Riiber’s effort pipped him to first place on the hill.
Rettenegger, after contending in the first half of the cross-country, eventually finished fifth, a place behind compatriot Lamparter, who continued his return to form with fourth place after third in the Gundersen.
The fixed six-second intervals in the shorter Compact format made for a highly competitive race as Geiger and Schmid in particular served notice that Riiber will not have it all his own way this winter.
The men’s World Cup circuit will move on to Ramsau in Austria from 19-21 December, where they will compete in Mass Start and Gundersen competitions.
Click here for full results from Sunday's Compact in Lillehammer.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Vinzenz Geiger (GER) claimed the 12th World Cup victory of his career, and the second this season after a Mass Start win in Ruka
Geiger, 27, has now featured on the podium in four of this season's opening five competitions
Julian Schmid (GER) has also had four podium finishes in the first five events, with three second-places, including both in Lillehammer
Five-time overall champion Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) earned the 102nd World Cup podium of his illustrious career
Riiber ends the weekend 30 points clear of Schmid in the overall World Cup standings, with Geiger 58 points behind Riiber in third
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