17:23. It was in difficult conditions , with wind and snow disrupting the jumpers, that the qualifying round of the first ski jumping competition of the World Cup in Ruka (Finland) went ahead as best it could at the end of the afternoon.
Frenchman Valentin Foubert took full advantage of the unpredictable weather conditions to put in an excellent performance. With a jump from 133 metres, the Courchevel native finished seventeenth in the first round. His best career result at this level of competition. The Frenchman will have a great chance in the final competition.
In front of him, Slovenia’s Timi Zajc took the lead in this first round after jumping 146 metres. The overall leader for the first time in his career at the age of 34, Germany’s Pius Paschke (137.5 metres) was second, while Norway’s Marius Lindvik (146.5 metres) completed the top 3. Among the beaten were Halvor Egner Granerud, who did no better than a standing jump of just 70 metres.
The full rankings
- Only Valentin Foubert is continuing with the World Cup in Ruka
- Nicolas Dessum, coach of the French men’s team, reflects on the Lillehammer World Cup: “Valentin Foubert gained in confidence thanks to this weekend”.
