Freund brings home the first competition in Lahti

Freund brings home the first competition in Lahti

28/02/2014 19:27

After a dominant performance in Falun, Severin Freund confirms himself on top winning the first competition in Lahti with the best score in both the two rounds. His seventh victory in the World Cup brings the German third in the standings (as Noriaki Kasai gave up the race because of a knee injury) and 211 points from the first position held by Peter Prevc, who now has only seven points more than Kamil Stoch.

Second place today goes to a surprising Stefan Kraft, who was 9th after the first round and gained seven spots with the best jump of the competition (134 meters). Stoch closes the podium and earns ten points more than Prevc, just behind him. The local sensation Anssi Koivuranta put on very solid performances throughout the day: third in the qualification round, sixth after the first jump and fifth at the end of the competition ahead of the three Austrians Thomas Diethart, Michael Hayboeck (winner of the quali and very convincing in the two race segments) and Gregor Schlierenzauer; "Schlieri" lost many points with the last jump, after having been second in the first round. Anders Bardal and a very fit Gregor Deschwanden close the top-10.

It is interesting to take in consideration the results of Jurij Tepes, Antonin Hajek, Rune Velta and Jernej Damjan, as the ski flying world championships are getting closer and these athletes are reaching a great shape. Tepes is 11th in today's competition, just ahead of his team-mate Damjan. The two of them and the Czech (14th) looked pretty good on the table, gaining more height than usual without losing their flying quality. Velta (15th) is the reigning vice-champion and had lots of ups and downs this season, but now he keeps getting better. Among these four jumpers finished the veteran Jakub Janda (13th).

Sebastian Colloredo closed out of the points, 40th; Federico Cecon didn't qualify for the race but goes on increasing his feeling with the World Cup.

Edoardo Vercellesi (@edoverce97 on Twitter)