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Vinzenz Geiger got his first podium of the winter
Photo: Tom Weller / picture alliance / dpa
With a strong cross-country skiing race, Vinzenz Geiger got his first podium finish of the World Cup season in Nordic combined.
The 25-year-old from Oberstdorf was only beaten by Norwegian winner Jens Lurås Oftebro and his compatriot Jarl Magnus Riiber in Lillehammer on Saturday.
“It was hard work.
Now I'm even happier that it worked.
I just wanted to go full throttle and only realized late that it could be enough for the podium," said the 25-year-old from Oberstdorf on ARD.
After a jump to 92.5 meters, Geiger was 18th, 1:18 minutes behind, on a podium place in the cross-country race over ten kilometers.
On the cross-country ski run, however, he was convincing and prevailed in a large field of pursuers in the battle for third place.
Geiger already did a similar race to catch up in February when he secured the Olympic victory.
After a jump from the normal hill and ten kilometers on the cross-country ski run, Geiger was 39.2 seconds behind Oftebro.
With second place, his compatriot Riiber made a home double victory perfect and took the yellow jersey from the overall World Cup leader from Julian Schmid.
At the opening triple in Ruka, Finland, Geiger fell short of expectations with places 19, ninth and 43 after poor jumping performances.
"It's not quite as relaxed in jumping, but I see myself on the right track there, too," said Geiger.
Beaten Nathalie Armbruster in the finish sprint
Schmid impressed again as seventh, followed by Manuel Faißt (Baiersbronn) in fifth.
"All the races of the season have been good so far, that gives you confidence," said Schmid.
Things were mixed for the German veterans: Johannes Rydzek was 18th, Fabian Rießle was 19th, record world champion Eric Frenzel was 24th.
In the women's category, the German champion Nathalie Armbruster missed her second podium by a hair's breadth.
One day after her third place, the 16-year-old from the Black Forest finished fourth, Armbruster only saw the finish photo evaluation behind the Austrian Lisa Hirner at the same time.
Like the day before, victory went to the Norwegian overall World Cup winner Gyda Westvold Hansen.
kjo/dpa/sid