Geiger pips Oftebro to win riveting Gundersen in Ramsau

Defending overall champion Vinzenz Geiger (GER) pulled off a remarkable Gundersen victory in the Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup after edging Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR) in a stunning sprint finish in Ramsau.

The 28-year-old started the 10km cross-country in 15^th place, one minute and 20 seconds behind Thomas Rettenegger (AUT), who again dominated on the jumping hill.

But along with the charging Oftebro, who began 1:17 behind in 12^th, the duo pulled away in the final kilometre before a tactical battle into the finish saw Geiger prevail by just 0.1 seconds to claim his 18^th individual World Cup win, his first of the season and his sixth in Ramsau, equalling the record of Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) on the Austrian plateau.

Current Yellow Bib holder Johannes Lamparter (AUT), who began in fourth place but quickly joined Ilkka Herola (FIN) in chasing down Rettenegger, dropped to fifth early on the final lap but overhauled first Stefan Rettenegger and then his brother Thomas in a sprint to take the final spot on the podium.

Thomas Rettenegger pipped Johannes Rydzek (GER) in a photo finish for fourth, with Stefan Rettenegger having to settle for sixth and Herola coming home seventh.

Lamparter, starting 56 seconds back in fourth, quickly passed Paul Walcher (AUT) to join Herola in the pursuit of leader Rettenegger, who maintained his 48-second advantage over the first of the 2.5km loops.

It still remained around 41 seconds at the halfway point, with Oftebro and Stefan Rettenegger leading the charge on the second lap, both moving up to within 55 seconds of the leader.

Those two, with Rydzek and the accelerating Geiger for company, breached the gap to Herola and Lamparter early on the third lap, moving past them and motoring on to close to within 14 seconds of Thomas Rettenegger after 7.5km.

By the time they got to the final uphill section, the writing was on the wall for the leader as Oftebro, Geiger, his brother Stefan, Lamparter and Herola all stormed through the tiring Austrian.

Heading into the final half a kilometre, it was Oftebro and Geiger who broke away from the rest, leading to a tactical duel, Geiger moving to the outside to pip the Norwegian by the narrowest of margins.

“It’s always better to win a sprint for second than lose a sprint so that’s a bit annoying, but I am really happy with two second places this weekend,” Oftebro said.

Lamparter, who came into the weekend with a 43-point lead in the standings, extended it to 67 points over Thomas Rettenegger, and 106 over Julian Schmid (GER), who could only manage 15^th place.

“It was a really tough race,” Lamparter said. “With Thomas in front and some really fast guys behind, it was not an easy situation.  It was a really fast last lap so I am pretty happy to finish on the podium.  I had a really good Christmas present with the Yellow Bib so everything is good right now.”

Rettenegger stars on hill again

Earlier a superb competition on the HS98 hill produced a stacked field of chasers behind Thomas Rettenegger, who for a fourth time in six completed competitions this season produced the dominant jump of the day.

When Andreas Gfrerer (AUT), the 17^th of 60 jumpers, set down an 89.5m effort to move into the lead, it proved the latest portent of Austria’s stunning form on the hill.

Gfrerer ultimately finished 19^th in the jumping section, one of nine Austrians in the top 20, with six in the top 10 and four in the top five.

Lukas Greiderer (AUT) - 91.5m for 119.3 points – took over from his team-mate before the final 20 jumpers produced a flurry of changes at the top.

Laurent Muhletahler ‘s (FRA) 92.5m effort for 119.9 points and Richard Stenzel (GER) – the second-longest jump at 94.0m (124.1 points) - briefly interrupted the charge before Florian Kolb (AUT) – 91.5m for 124.4 points – regained the lead for Austria.

But he was immediately overtaken by compatriot Paul Walcher (AUT), the double world junior champion pulling out a 92.0m jump for 126.5 points.

Walcher held onto it through most of the top 10 until Herola’s 91.0m effort scored 126.7 points to put the flying Finn on top.

But Thomas Rettenegger (above), going second from last, reinforced his status as the best jumper of the winter by soaring 95.5m, 1.5m further than Walcher, for 138.8 points.

Lamparter, going last, jumped 91.0m (124.8 points) to finish fourth on the hill, leaving him 0:56 behind Rettenegger, with only Herola splitting the Austrians in the top five.

But as well as Herola and Lamparter, some of the fastest skiers lurked within touching distance – Johannes Rydzek (ninth, +1:07), Stefan Rettenegger (10^th, +1:14), Oftebro (12^th, +1:17), Greiderer (13^th, +1:18) and Geiger (15^th, +1:20) all ensuring there would be a furious tussle in the tracks.

The men will return to World Cup action in Otepää, Estonia, with three competitions from 9-11 January, after the cancellation of the scheduled events in Schonach, Germany, over the weekend of 3-4 January due to unfavourable snow conditions and forecast warm weather.

Click here for full results from Saturday’s men’s Gundersen.