Lanisek dedicates Zakopane win to retiring legend Stoch

Five-time World Championship medalist Anze Lanisek (SLO) showed an impressive return to form with his first World Cup win since November, despite challenging conditions in Zakopane, Poland.

The Slovenian, who led the race for the Crystal Globe after victory in Ruka (FIN) on 29 November 2025, has been without an individual podium finish since, but delivered two impressive jumps in Poland to top the standings once more.

Heavy snowfall combined with changeable winds caused havoc among the 30-strong field in the second round, but Lanisek’s efforts of 138m and 137m ensured he attained a high score overall total of 278.1 to claim the title.

Jan Hoerl (AUT) matched his best result of the season with second, after attaining an overall total of 264.8pts, while Manuel Fettner (AUT), who will retire at the end of the season, claimed his first top-three finish in nearly three years after scoring 262.7pts.

While the spectators, who numbered well over 15,000, were able to witness many of the best athletes on the planet compete for Zakopane’s sole men’s individual World Cup title of the 2025/26 season, they were keen to see one man in particular.

38-year-old Kamil Stoch (POL), has won Olympic, World, Four Hills and overall World Cup titles during his incredible career and was leaping from the ‘Wielka Krokiew’ ski jumping hill for the last time competitively in his career, before retirement at the end of the season.

He would ultimately place 42^nd at the event he has won on five occasions, the first back in 2011 and he waved with pride to the crowd as he left the arena for the final time.

The latest Zakopane champion Lanisek was quick to pay tribute to the Polish great.

“For sure I dedicate this to Kamil,” said the Slovenian. “He’s the king of Zakopane, king of Poland and ski jumping and overall huge hats off to him for his whole career. Hopefully he’ll have more fun this season and after (retirement) too.”

World champion leader Domen Prevc (SLO) had been seeking a record-equalling 13^th consecutive World Cup podium finish, held by Janne Ahonen (FIN), but he was a surprise 12^th at the halfway stage and slipped even further in the second, placing 27^th.

With just four of the top-10 from the men’s overall World Cup standings contesting the event in Zakopane (POL) the Slovenian was still able to extend his advantage over the rest and now leads by 396 points.

The majority of the men’s field will now head east to Japan for the Sapporo World Cup double-header, which takes place from 16-18 January.

Lanisek is now up to third in the overall standings, but will skip a trip to Japan, meaning the event will represent a strong opportunity for Ryoyu Kobayashi and Ren Nikaido, who are currently second and fourth respectively in the overall standings, gain advantages over the Slovenian and potentially close down Prevc on their home hil.