For a long time it looked as if the man with the yellow bib would be able to win again. World Cup leader Edelmann won the provisional competition round yesterday. On the competition day, the winter, with strong snowfall and strong wind, spoiled the plans of the nordic combined athletes. Edelmann had probably nothing against it, because so the result of the PCR counted, meaning he won the jumping portion for the third time this season.

Together with Klementsen and Austrian Christoph Bieler, Edelmann lead the race and could defend a lead of about half a minute against a group of four with his teammates Fabian Riessle and Frenzel and the Japanese brothers Akito and Yoshito Watabe. The second group grew every lap, but they could only get closer to the leaders slowly.

The race was decided on the last meters. After Christoph Bieler could not keep up with Edelmann and Klementsen on the final climb, the World Cup leader paid his toll for the work in the lead. The 26-year-old left the fight for the victory to Italian Alessandro Pittin and local hero Klemensen. "It was not easy to run the whole race in the leading position. I expected a little bit more support of the others in the group", Edlemann criticized Klementsen and Bieler. "I defended the yellow bib. That was my main task today."

Klementsen used Edelmann's slipstream and captured the victory in front of his cheering home crowd and knew who he had to thank. "Edelmann had a great race and did a great job. After the third lap I was sure that the others couldn't close the gap", said Klementsen, who achieved the 100th World Cup victory for Norway and spoke about the strongest Norwegian team he has ever been a member of.

Also Olympic silver medalist Pittin was happy when he crossed the finish line. "I felt very good today and had great equipment. I the fourth lap I risked it all. But Klementsen could break away again. But still I'm very happy about the result." It was also good competition for World Champion, Olympic Champion and two-time overall World Cup winner Jason Lamy Chappuis. He had the best finish of the large group and so the French came in fourth, ahead of Bieler and the three Germans Eric Frenzel, Bjoern Kircheisen and Fabian Riessle.

With the 60 points he scored today, Edelmann now has 220 points in the overall ranking and could extend the lead to Magnus Krog (169 points) and Klementsen (160 points). The premiere of the Penalty Race, that was not possible today due to the cancellation of the ski jumping, is now planned for tomorrow. For that, the distance-zones for the penalty must be determined on the large hill after the trial round.

Tags:  klemetsen edelmann pittin lamy chappuis kircheisen frenzel riessle lillehammer

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