Prevc powers to Sapporo victory as Nakamura leads double delight for Japan

Domen Prevc (SLO) has reasserted his World Cup dominance with his eighth win of the season in Sapporo, Japan.

The Crystal Globe-leader returned to the top of the podium following his surprise 27th place in Zakopane, increasing his advantage in the overall standings to more than 400 points. The home fans also had plenty to celebrate, as Japanese duo Naoki Nakamura and Ren Nikaido secured second and third place respectively.

Prevc was second going into the final round with an opening jump of 132m for a points total of 130.0, just 1.3pts behind first round-leader Jan Hoerl (AUT). The Slovenian followed it up with a mammoth 141m in his second jump to put victory beyond doubt. It’s his second win in Sapporo, following victory in 2024 and he hinted there’s still more to come.

“I think I can put more energy in the jumps, I feel really amazing,” Prevc said.

“I feel really good, I feel the power in my legs. In Zakopane it wasn’t my day and to be honest it would be strange if I just won all the time. These things happens and it wasn’t that my head was tired, in Zakopane it’s just not my hill.”

Joy for Japan as Nakamura secures career-best finish

All the home focus in the build-up to Sapporo was on 2025 winner Ryoyu Kobayashi, who topped qualification on Friday, but it was another Japanese jumper who stole the headlines. An enthusiastic home crowd cheered as Naoki Nakamura soared to a career-best second place finish with jumps of 134m and 132.5m for a total of 263.6pts. It’s his second World Cup podium after Ruka (FIN) in 2022.

“I’m very surprised!” laughed Nakamura after taking to the podium.

“It’s not luck I think, it was a perfect jump. I know this hill, these conditions."

Nakamura finished six points ahead of his countryman Ren Nikaido in third (257.6pts) , his fifth World Cup podium of the season. With Anze Lanisek (SLO) not competing in Sapporo, the result moves Nikaido into third place in the overall standings. Kobayashi recovered from tenth place in the first round to finish fifth on 256pts.

“We are strong this year as a team, hopefully we can make the top three (at the Olympics),” added Nakamura.

It had been hoped the legendary Noriaki Kasai (JPN) would make a record 580th individual World Cup appearance in Sapporo. But the 53-year-old failed to qualify for the main competition, finishing outside the top 50.

Austrians lose ground in Crystal Globe chase

The first round-leader Jan Hoerl (AUT) had to settle for fourth place in Sapporo with jumps of 136m and 127m. He remains behind Lanisek in the overall standings in fifth place. Stephan Embacher (254.5pts) and Daniel Tschofenig (245.9pts) finished sixth and eighth in Sapporo to remain seventh and eighth in the overall standings.

FIS SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP – SAPPORO (JPN) SCHEDULE

18.01.2026
09:30 – Start Qualification – QUA Men’s LH
11:00 – Competition Start – Men’s LH

All times listed are local and are subject to change.