Eric Frenzel rules supreme in Qualification in Val di Fiemme
Aug 31, 2018·Nordic Combined
World Cup leader Eric Frenzel is close to unbeatable on Val di Fiemme’s HS 134 jumping hill in Predazzo. Like last year, the German won the PCR/Qualification with 144.9 points, resulting of a 133.5 metre jump from two gates lower than his direct competitors.
Should the PCR have to be used in case of adverse weather conditions, this would give Frenzel a head start of 57 seconds on his closest pursuer, Akito Watabe. The Japanese landed at 125.5 metres (130.6 p.). The third place was shared between Germany’s Björn Kircheisen and Jørgen Graabak from Norway (128.5 m and 123.5 m; both 129.8 p.). This score put both at exactly one minute behind Eric Frenzel for the cross-country race.
The young generation of athletes who have been increasing their levels of performance did also not disappoint in the PCR. Young Austrians Franz-Josef Rehrl and Mario Seidl claimed positions five and six (+1:04 and +1:10), Samuel Costa defended the Italian honour with rank eight (+1:16) and Terence Weber claimed another respectable ninth position. Johannes Rydzek and Magnus Krog were seventh and tenth, but with +1:13 and +1:26 also still in business, as was Fabian Rießle on rank twelve with +1:27.
Unfortunately, the qualification proved to be a painful one for the local heroes from team Italy. Among the athletes who did not make it were Alessandro Pittin, Manuel Maierhofer, Armin Bauer and Mattia and Lukas Runggaldier. In addition to that, Kail Piho, Leon Sarc and Paul Gerstgraser as well as Bryan Fletcher will have to be spectators at the event tomorrow.
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