For ÖSV combined athletes, the freestyle should follow the “mandatory” bronze

Once again defeated by the other two top nations Norway and Germany, the attention of Johannes Lamparter and Co. after mastering the mandatory exercise with material problems as background noise quickly turned to the final large hill individual competition on Saturday.

“In the meantime, you’re already speculating with a different color – at some point it’s time,” said ÖSV head coach Christoph Eugen after his team’s fourth bronze place at a World Cup in a row. The two previous medals for Austria in Planica were also bronze, thanks to Franz-Josef Rehrl and the mixed team. That’s not the only reason why you want more in the last competition. “I would really like to win another medal,” said Eugen, who once again had to do without Franz-Josef Rehrl. The bronze medalist on the normal hill was no longer fit after a flu.

His best bet is defending champion Lamparter. The World Cup leader lost out in the team as goalkeeper against top star Jarl Magnus Riiber and Julian Schmid. After successfully closing the gap, the Tyrolean had no chance in the final sprint, also because the ski choice had been wrong. Lamparter’s word donations were correspondingly slowed down.

Because of his actually good performance, Lamparter gained some self-confidence for the new showdown with Riiber and Co. “That definitely gives motivation for the individual.” The Tyrolean will have a difficult time against normal hill winner Riiber, Jens Luraas Oftebro and Schmid. “Riiber will be difficult to crack. Johannes was always three or four points behind in jumping training. If the four come together in cross-country skiing, I believe that it can be a very exciting and relaxed competition,” said Eugen.