Hanna Falk (SWE) and Alexei Petukov (RUS) are the winners for the City Sprint in free technique in Düsseldorf.

On the 828 m long course, the Swedish youngter Hanna Falk took her first ever World Cup victory in her career. The athete from south of Sweden finished in a tight sprint in the Final ahead of the Russian Natalia Korosteleva. The third spot took Vesa Fabjan (SLO) who made with that result her first podium place ever in her World Cup career.

Just edged out of the podium with the fourth place was Ida Ingemarsdotter (SWE). On fifth place finished Celine Brun-Lie (NOR) and six was Kirsi Peraelae (FIN).

For Falk, who is the first year in the senior class, it was an amazing success on the quite flat course in Düsseldorf. It was her second World Cup start after Kuusamo last week, was fourth fastest in the today's qualification and sprinted on in the Final to her first victory in a World Cup race.

Aino Kaisa Saarinen, who was not competing today, is still in the lead of the overall World Cup while the today's winner Hanna Falk is now in the red bib for the Sprint World Cup standing.

The Russian Alexei Petukhov claimed victory in the men's race on the 1,5 km long course just ahead of both Norwegians Anders Gloeersen and Eirik Brandsdal. On fourth place finished John Kristian Dahl, Ola Vigen Hattestad took the fifth place and Nikolay Morilov, the brother of Natalia Korosteleva was six.

For the 26-year-old Petukhov it was as well the first ever World Cup victory. While Anders Gloeersen was for the third time on a World Cup podium after two victories in the season 2007/2008. Eirik Brandsdal could celebrate today his first ever World Cup podium on the tight sprint in Düsseldorf.

In the overall World Cup ranking, Petter Northug (NOR) is still in the lead with 5 points ahead of Ola Vigen Hattestad. Alexei Petukhov is now third. In the lead of the sprint World Cup is Ola Vigen Hattestad 45 points ahead of Petukhov and John Kristian Dahl (NOR).

Hanna Falk (SWE):
It´s my first time on the podium - my first victory! It´s amazing because it´s just my second World Cup. I liked the track here very much - it´s the kind of track that allows to go very fast.

Natalia Korosteleva (RUS):
"It was a great race today. I am happy to be back on the podium of an individual race after two years. I hope to be as well in shape for the Olympics. Now I will got to Davos to prepare me for the next races."

Vesna Fabjan (SLO):
"It is my first time on the podium - and I am happy, happy, happy! I was hoping for sunshine for todays races - but no matter if it´s raining or snowing - I like it here!

Alexei Petukhov (RUS):
"I was very confident, that I would win but I didn´t have many opportunities to practice. I had a little down several months ago but now I am feeling better from month to month.
I have a very good start force and I was very strong today and also had a little luck. So it all came together.
We want to be as strong as other successful nation and we are proud to fight with our Norwegian friends. So thanks to the Norwegian colleagues for the tough fight."

Anders Gloeersen (NOR):
I tried to take the lead to get the others tired. In the last round I knew that my plan worked and that the others were getting tired. I felt very good during the last weeks and skating is my best technique. I think in Düsseldorf the snow condition is impressive: I thought it might be a loose track - but it was hard! It was very good to get speed. I´m very satisfied."

Eirik Brandsdal (NOR):
"It´s my first time on the podium - and it felt very good! I love Düsseldorf - I like the people, the atmosphere and the track. It was very good for speeding and a tight race. Building a team with Anders tomorrow will be a good opportunity to repeat Norways good result from last year and win the team sprint."

Contributed by: FIS
Saturday 5 December 2009

Schlierenzauer: "Victory is worth a lot"

Gregor Schlierenzauer is back on the road to success. The 19-year-old (268.9 points) won on the Olympic hill of 1994 in Lillehammer under heavy snowfall ahead of his fellow countryman Thomas Morgenstern (265.4 points), who celebrated his first podium finish since January 2009 (Sapporo). Adam Malysz from Poland (259.8 points) came in third and proved that he is in a good shape already in his chase for Olympic Gold.

"I analyzed my first jump and in the final I could show a real Schlierenzauer-jump. This victory is worth a lot, especially after my injury", Schlierenzauer said after his 25th victory. And that at the age of only 19. With this success Schlierenzauer now has the same number of World Cup victories as the most successful Austrian so far, Andreas Felder. Gregor Schlierenzauer was only sixth after the first round, but jumped to the top with the longest jump of the day of 141 m in the final round.

And of course also Adam Malysz was satisfied with his result today. "My shape is much better than the place in Kuusamo showed. I jumped really well and I showed that I can compete with the best. The conditions in the first round were not perfect, but in the second round it was much better, thanks to the trialjumpers."

Ahonen in the Top Ten

The recently scolded Harri Olli returned to the world class with his fourth place, Robert Kranjec from Slovenia achieved a top result as fifth. The outstanding result of the Austrian team was completed by Andreas Kofler and Wolfgang Loitzl as sixth and seventh. Two veterans landed on the places eight and nine: Roar Ljoekelsoey from Norway, 33-years-old, and Finland's Janne Ahonen (32).

Like already in Kuusamo, Simon Ammann struggled with the conditions today and could not achieve a top results. He finished 12th again. World Champion Andreas Kuettle was the best Swiss as eleventh.

In the final round the jury moved up the inrun gate and a lot of trialjumpers were needed to minimize the snow in the inrun track. "I did not care about advantages or disadvantages. My take-off was not good", said Michael Uhrmann, who did not want to use the conditions as an excuse. The Germans Pascal Bodmer, Uhrmann and Andreas Wank came in on the places 14, 15 and 16.  The winner from Kuusamo, Bjoern Einar Romoeren, was 17th.

A day of strong debuts

18-year-old Norwegian Anders Fannemel had a very special debut in the World Cup today. In his first appearance on this level he reached the great tenth place. Also his teammate Andreas Stjernen, son of Hroar Stjernen who won in Bischofshofen 1985, could score points as 19th. So head coach Mika Kojonkoski can have the hope that he'll be able to establish yet another nobody in the world class.

Also Slovene Peter Prevc had a very good World Cup debut as 22nd. The 17-year-old replaced Jernej Damjan, who is not in a good shape, in the team of coach Matjaz Zupan.

Illustrious group failed

Due to the heavy snowfall the jury wanted to go on with the competition as fast as possible, but it was still not really fair at the Olympic hill of 1994. So a lot of favorites have fallen in the increasing snowfall. Five jumpers who placed in the Top 10 in Kuusamo were only spectators in the final round. Victims of the snowfall were Noriaki Kasai, Daiki Ito, Martin Schmitt, Michael Neumayer, Denis Kornilov, Johan Remen Evensen, Anders Jacobsen, Shohei Tochimoto and Matti Hautamaeki.

Of the athletes who were ahead of the World Cup ranking only Wolfgang Loitzl was able to show a good jump. "We have one km/h less speed and at the table it's getting even slower. These are not the conditions that usually suit me. That's bad, but you can't do anything about the weather. I had good days of training here and hope that I can prove my shape here", Martin Schmitt said after the first round.

Romoeren could keep his lead in the overall ranking. Schlierenzauer is now second, ahead of Bodmer.

fisskijumping.com
05.12.2009 18:00