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Vincent Geiger
Photo: GEPA pictures / Harald Steiner / imago images / GEPA pictures
The German combined athletes took a convincing second place behind Norway in the only team world cup before the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (February 4 to 20, 2022).
After jumping from the normal hill, Eric Frenzel, Manuel Faißt, Terence Weber and Vinzenz Geiger were still in first place.
They held this up until shortly before the end of the 4 x 5 kilometers in cross-country skiing, before the final runner Geiger had to admit defeat to the Norwegian Jarl Magnus Riiber with a margin of 5.3 seconds.
Decision shortly before the end of the race
Starting runner Frenzel started the cross-country course as the leader 21 seconds ahead of Norway.
The 33-year-old doubled his lead.
As expected, successor Faißt lost time against Jens Luraas Oftebro.
With almost 19 seconds left, he handed over to Weber, who continued to lose to Joergen Graabak.
Almost at the same time, the final runners Geiger and Riiber went on the last two laps, shortly before the finish sprint, Riiber increased the pace and Geiger could no longer follow.
The Japanese finished third in Lillehammer, more than two and a half minutes behind.
At the Olympic dress rehearsal, national trainer Hermann Weinbuch did without the strong team Olympic champions Johannes Rydzek and Fabian Rießle and bet on the top jumpers Weber and Faißt.
Last success 2018 in Ruka
Most recently, a German team won a relay on November 25, 2018 in Ruka, Finland, after which there was a second place in the World Cup and two at the World Championships in 2019 and 2021, each behind Norway.
At the 2018 Winter Games, the German combined athletes had dominated: They won in the relay, Eric Frenzel on the normal hill and Johannes Rydzek ahead of Fabian Rießle and Frenzel on the large hill.
mfu / sid / dpa
