Big win for Vinzenz Geiger in Park City

After a disappointing 10 km Individual Gundersen event at the FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Park City, favourite Vinzenz Geiger from Germany has taken the expected gold medal in the final 5 km event. Geiger won big, finishing 22.6 seconds ahead of Arttu Mäkiaho from Finland, who captured his second medal. France’s Laurent Muhlethaler was beaten in a finish line sprint but still salvaged a bronze medal.

Geiger had already jumped to the lead in the ski jumping round of the event, beating Japan’s Yuto Nakamura with a jump of 92 metres (121.5 p.). This meant a 4 second head start on the Japanese who also jumped 92 metres (120.4 p.). Austria’s Christian Deuschl was third with 93 metres and 118.7 points, which translated into a delay of 12 seconds on the track. In general, conditions on the ski jumping hill were not so easy. The Jury had to take a 10 minute break in the middle of the competition due to some heavy snowfall and a lot of headwind.

Geiger was able to celebrate a clear victory in the cross-country race, capitalising on his jumping lead and returned cross-country strength. „It’s great to be on top of the podium today, after the 10km were so hard for me due to some illness and an injury after I fell at the Worldcup in Chaux Neuve. It just feels amazing to be Junior World Champion now“, Geiger said after the race.

Arttu Mäkiaho (FIN) and Laurent Muhlethaler (FRA) sprinted for the silver medal with the better end of Mäkiaho, who had the fastest cross country time and made his way from 9th place to the silver medal. Yuto Nakamura had to be satisfied with the fourth position, Christian Deuschl ended up on place six. Ben Loomis was the best US boy on position nine.