The cross-country skiing center Lago di Tesero in Val di Fiemme has always been a golden ground for Austria’s Nordic combined athletes. In 1991 Austria’s squadron with Günter Csar, Klaus Ofner and Klaus Sulzenbacher won the World Cup there, and in 2003 there was another thanks to Michael Gruber, Wilhelm Denifl, Christoph Bieler and Felix Gottwald. And last weekend, a local again had a special sense of achievement here: the 20-year-old Johannes Lamparter celebrated his very first World Cup victory after two World Cup titles in the preseason.
“You never forget this day in your career,” said the Tyrolean, who finished second in the second race yesterday behind the German Vinzenz Geiger. The fact that he made the premiere without having to compete with the Norwegian combined king Jarl Magnus Riiber, who is currently injured in his back – he has dominated the event so far this winter impressively – did not diminish the joy. “I’m proud of the way I approached the race.”
Lamparter successfully kept the chasing group led by the German violinist and his teammate Eric Frenzel at a distance. “I never knew whether the lead would work out or not. All in all, simply brilliant, especially because my jumping form after Ramsau was not good and I worked hard on it over the holidays.”
Hirner third in the ladies
In the women’s category, Lisa Hirner, an ÖSV athlete, also landed on the podium as third. The sixth season competition also went to Norwegian Gyda Westvold Hansen. Sigrun Kleinrath from Altmünster came 16th in her first World Cup appearance this season.
Source: Nachrichten
