Akito Watabe wins turbulent PCR in Chaux-Neuve

Akito Watabe used his chances best in a turbulent Provisional Competition Round in Chaux-Neuve that was characterised by changing weather and wind conditions. Between sunshine, clouds and snow, as well as head and tailwind, the Japanese jumped 115 metres and secured a 24 second-head start should the PCR have to be used tomorrow or on Sunday.

Jumping sensation Jarl Magnus Riiber was beaten this time and finished second with 111 metres and 121.5 points. Franz Josef Rehrl ended up on rank three with 112 metres and 119.8 points. For the cross-country race, this would mean a delay of 31 seconds at the start line. Willi Denifl, Fabian Rießle and Manuel Faißt secured good starting positions as well with ranks four, five and six, starting +0:44 and +0:50 seconds after the leaders. Mario Seidl and Tomas Portyk shared rank seven (+0:53) and Go Yamamoto and Ernest Yahin were on a shared ninth position (+0:54).

Also still within striking distance were Finland’s Eero Hirvonen (+1:04), Bernhard Gruber (+1:06) and Mikko Kokslien (+1:14). Many of the favourites, however, had to struggle with difficult conditions were ranked lower on the result lists than they were used to. Should the PCR be used, Eric Frenzel would start the race from position 16, Jørgen Graabak was 18th, Espen Andersen 23rd, Ilkka Herola 28th and Johannes Rydzek 39th. World Cup leader Jan Schmid was even as far back as position 42 (+2:20).

14 athletes did not qualify for tomorrow’s Individual event, among them USA’s Jasper Good and Czech Republic’s Lukas Danek, Italy’s Armin Bauer and Rafaele Buzzi, local hero Hugo Buffard, Austria’s Mika Vermeulen and Finland’s Matti Herola and Atte Korhonen.