Serial winner Riiber in Ramsau the big hunted

Record World Cup winner Jarl Magnus Riiber has already celebrated four victories en suite in the Nordic combined, only at the season-opening competition in Ruka did he lose out to compatriot Jens Luraas Oftebro in the sprint. This is not the only reason why he is the big favorite for Austria’s combined athletes at the home World Cup in Ramsau am Dachstein from today.

“Jarl is currently the one who sets the tone,” says Johannes Lamparter, the red-white-red’s biggest hope today in the mass start competition (1:45 p.m./5 p.m.) and on Saturday in the compact format (9:15 a.m./3:30 p.m., both live on ORF 1) , to. What makes the Norwegian particularly strong is his jumping ability, and he often cleverly manages his lead on the cross-country ski trail.

Like other ÖSV athletes, Lamparter is of course excited to see how the mass start on the narrow, 2.5 kilometer long lap will turn out. “It’s quite narrow with jagged curves. It could be a massacre on the first lap,” fears the Tyrolean. Teammate Franz-Josef Rehrl agreed: He couldn’t imagine that everyone would get through the first corner in one piece. “Hopefully it’s not my ski or pole that breaks. But a little material will clean it up.” The cross-country ski trail is one of the most demanding in the World Cup calendar. “You have to be fully prepared to run.”

Mario Stecher won the last ÖSV World Cup victory in Ramsau in 2010. In the women’s category, Lisa Hirner, who came second in Styria last year, wants to annoy the previously dominant Norwegians.