Nordic combined: Jarl Magnus Riiber, the obvious choice
Slowed down in recent weeks by a number of health problems, Norway’s Jarl Magnus Riiber showed on Friday in Ruka (Finland) that he is still the best nordic combined skier on the planet. In the opening round of the 2024/2025 World Cup, on an individual compact where the reserve jump from the previous day had to be used, the man with five major crystal globes mastered the competition perfectly to triumph once again.
In the lead at the start of this 7.5 km cross-country ski chase with predefined gaps, he held on to his position for one lap before being caught by a small group of three. With Johannes Lamparter, Vinzenz Geiger and Ilkka Herola, Jarl Magnus Riiber took the lead and nobody was able to catch up… except Julian Schmid, who put in a great performance.
It was finally on the final climb to the stadium that Jarl Magnus Riiber made the effort to drop his rivals and win the race like the boss. Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid climbed onto the podium, while Ilkka Herola, at home, Johannes Lamparter, too short in the final, and Joergen Graabak followed.
In ninth place was Frenchman Mattéo Baud. Eleventh at the start of this cross-country race, the Doubiste from Métabief (Doubs) put in a fine chase and started his season with a fine top 10 finish. Laurent Muhlethaler was twenty-third, while Edgar Vallet finished forty-fourth and Marco Heinis forty-sixth.
Full results
- Ruka: individual compact jump cancelled, Mattéo Baud and Laurent Muhlethaler on the verge of the top 10 before cross-country skiing
- Ruka: all the results of the two reserve jumps… with Mattéo Baud in particularly good form
- Regular top 10 finishes for Laurent Muhlethaler and Mattéo Baud, podium finishes for Léna Brocard: the French team’s ambitions for the 2024/2025 World Cup
- Ruka: the French team selection for the first stage of the World Cup
- Jens Luraas Oftebro and Jarl Magnus Riiber are here: Norway in full force for the Ruka World Cup
- Ruka: Eero Hirvonen withdraws after performing too poorly on the ski jump
