Geiger sprints to victory in Compact on second day of Seefeld Triple

Vinzenz Geiger (GER) sprinted past the battling Austrians and Norwegians in an incredible finish in the 7.5km race to win the FIS Nordic Combined Individual Compact on the second day of the Triple in Seefeld on Saturday.

The German overtook the fighting field including leader Stefan Rettenegger (AUT) after starting in 10th and turning up the speed in the final few meters in one of the most exciting races of the Nordic Combined so far this season.

Austrian Johannes Lamparter, who enjoyed a Mass Start victory on Friday, held his position to claim second place and has been hoping he can achieve a second Triple of his career in front of his home crowd this weekend.

Einar Luraas Oftebro (NOR) struggled to hold on to his third-place start and was overtaken by his brother Jens who took the last podium place.

Lamparter, clearly disappointed after being pipped to the win and not having taken advantage of his position throughout the race, said: “It was a really good race from Stefan [Rettenegger] and me and I was thinking it was a good place, but these guys they were catching up.

“Even in the sprint they were just a bit faster and I am a bit worried about that. But we have one last day left so eyes on tomorrow.”

Jens Luraas Oftebro was similarly disappointed, despite coming from ninth just in front of Geiger and overtaking his brother Einar who was part of the leading pack for the first part of the race. “It feels good, it was nice with the podium,” he said. “I’m a bit disappointed with my jumping it was not the best and started out a bit too far behind.

“I tried to chase them down but it cost a lot even though Vinzenz [Geiger] started behind me and he won so it was possible. But still a good day and one day to go so still a good opportunity to fight for the win.”

A fight it will certainly be with a highly motivated Geiger setting up a good start to the final day of the Triple, who said: “I think if I can show a little bit better chance then everything is possible.”

Rettenegger showed great form with a 103m jump in the Normal Hill to take the lead ahead of Lamparter, and pushed towards the finish in the cross-country but struggled to hold on to the end, finishing in fourth place.

The three front starters had remained unchanged at the 2.5km point with the chasing group having two sets of brothers from the leading group in Rettenegger’s brother Thomas and Oftebro’s brother Jens Luraas, along with Norwegian Andreas Skoglund.

However, at this point the ultimate winner Geiger was still in eighth place, who was biding his time until the later stages of the race, where he moved to fourth before his spectacular bolt to overtake the leaders at the finish.

The Triple finale will be contested by the men in the Individual Gundersen on Sunday, with the jumping starting 12:30 CET and the cross-country scheduled for 15:30.

For results of the Individual Compact Normal Hill click here.