Kraft wins in Oslo and leads RAW AIR
Mar 12, 2023·Ski Jumping
Austrian Stefan Kraft was the outstanding man on Sunday in Oslo. On the legendary Holmenkollen Bakken Kraft won the second ski jumping competition in the RAW AIR 2023vahead of Slovenia's Anze Lanisek and Dawid Kubacki from Poland. Kraft is now also leading the RAW AIR overall ranking and has best chances to win the RAW AIR overall title, it would be his third title in the far north.
Stefan Kraft is back in top form in time for RAW AIR. "Actually it's a shame, the World Championships are over and now we're getting into really good shape as a team. But of course we are just as happy about the success here in Norway", Austria's head coach Andreas Widhoelzl commented on the strong performance of his team on Sunday. Kraft won, Daniel Tschofenig reached a strong fifth place at Holmenkollen after leading at half time, Manuel Fettner finished 11th.
"What a great day, first the Holmenkollen medal, then the day's win and the lead in the RAW AIR, that's perfect. That was a very special honor when I got the medal. The short conversation with the King of Norway impressed me very much. This honor has not been given to many Austrians, a really great honor for me. And then the competition with two great jumps, today everything just fit" explained Kraft, who had received the Holmenkollen medal from the Norwegian King only shortly before the competition.
Kraft won the competition clearly ahead of Anze Lanisek and could thus extend his lead in the RAW AIR overall ranking to 14.6 points. Just behind Lanisek, Halvor Egner Granerud ranks third in the RAW AIR overall standings.
On his 33rd birthday, Poland's Dawid Kubacki- was happy about third place in the daily standings: This is great, to achieve a podium finish on my birthday is really great. I am very satisfied with what I have delivered today, so I have given myself a nice present" said Kubacki. Kubacki is in fourth place in the RAW AIR overall ranking.
In addition to the Austrians, the Norwegians were also able to make an excellent showing: Daniel Andre Tande in 4th place, Johann Forfang in 6th place and Halvor Egner Granerud in 7th place are a great team result.
Best German jumper was Andreas Wellinger in 8th place, Markus Eisenbichler landed right behind Wellinger in 9th place.
For the men, the RAW AIR in Lillehammer continues already on Monday evening with the qualification (start is at 20:30). On Tuesday the next competition is on the program
