Lanisek extends World Cup lead after wind-impacted Ruka win

Three-time World champion Anze Lanisek (SLO) claimed his second-successive World Cup win after a first round lead in Ruka (FIN) became an overall victory, following the cancellation of the second round.

Fluctuating winds had created significant challenges for athletes throughout the morning training and subsequent qualification round, with World champion Domen Prevc (SLO) and 2024/25 Crystal Globe runner-up Jan Hoerl (AUT) only just progressing through to the main contest.

Lanisek has a reputation for excelling in situations like those witnessed in the opening round though and his 142m jump, scored 141 points to put him top.

Eight athletes would deliver second round jumps before the jury decided the changeable conditions, combined with increased snow and rainfall would make it unfair for the contest to continue.

The results from the first round therefore became the overall classifications.

“It was challenging since the beginning, yesterday in training, today in qualification and then in the first round but I managed a really good jump in nice conditions,” Lanisek told FIS. 

“It’s my first (ever) competition in the yellow bib (as the World Cup leader), which was a really unexpected occasion but I’m really grateful for all the hard work the team here and my family at home do for me.

Lanisek continued; “I had to remain calm and that’s what I did in the first round when it mattered the most and it’s amazing.”

One of the most impressive jumps in the career of Ren Nikaido (JPN), 141m, attained 136.4pts and saw the Japanese jumper claim his first-ever individual World Cup podium.

Prevc delivered a much-improved performance, after earlier struggles in qualification, to take third (135.2m / 128pts).

"I’m happy especially after that really bad start in qualification,” Prevc told FIS.

“I almost didn’t finish the competition and the somehow I managed to do a good jump in competition, so I’m really happy I scored a third place, it’s amazing.”

“For us, for the guys we need to do our job and work and it doesn’t matter the conditions, you just have to do your best for the results, so I don’t like to worry about the weather, it’s the decision of the jury.”

In addition to Nikaido’s landmark achievement, there were also best-ever results secured by Vladimir Zografski (BUL) - who has been competing on the World Cup circuit since 2008 - and Valentin Foubert (FRA), placing fourth and fifth respectively.

“It’s been a battle all day,” said FIS Ski Jumping World Cup race director Sandro Pertile. “We were ready to start, but at the end of the first round we had more and more trouble the wind was more and more unstable and this was worse at the start of the second round.

Pertile continues; “Then we had the combination of snowfall and rainfall and lost the speed after the first couple of athletes. We tried to clean and brush the track, but for Timi (Zajc) we saw he was slower and we could only expect this trend and then it’s not fair.

“Luckily, we have one round and today we’re extremely happy for that.”

Victory for Lanisek, combined with previous nearest rival Stefan Kraft (AUT) missing the World Cup in Ruka - with his wife due to give birth to their first child in the coming days - means the Slovenian now holds an advantage of 86 points from team-mate Prevc, in the overall standings.

For a full run-down of the results from Ruka, CLICK HERE.

The men’s field will return for their second World Cup event as part of the ‘Ruka Nordic’ weekend on Sunday.

FIS SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP – RUKA (FIN) SCHEDULE

30.11.2025
10:00 – QUA Men’s LH
15:50 – WC Men’s LH

All times listed in EET and are subject to change.