Nordic combination: team sprint in the ticker protocol

The most important thing in brief: The German Nordic combined athletes experience an Olympic debacle and end the Winter Games without a medal for the first time since 1998. Despite good prospects for gold after ski jumping, Johannes Rydzek and Vinzenz Geiger fell back from the top position to fifth place in the cross-country skiing race. In the end, the team sprint was 1:06.1 minutes short of gold.

Until the eighth round, Germany was in the top group. Then Geiger fell twice, collided with a competitor and lost important seconds.

Rydzek and Geiger had to admit defeat to the victorious Norwegians Andreas Skoglund and Jens Luraas Oftebro as well as the Finns Eero Hirvonen and Ilkka Herola. Bronze went to the Austrians Stefan Rettenegger and Johannes Lamparter.

Final score at the finish

1. Norway
2. Finland + 0.5 seconds
3. Austria + 22.3 seconds
4. Italy + 1:03.5 minutes
5. Germany + 1:06.1 minutes

Fall drama for Geiger! Germany missed the medal

2:43 p.m.: At the finish, Geiger fell even further back and came fifth behind Italein. He angrily throws the sticks away – he’s completely fed up.

2:41 p.m.: Who will win gold? It’s Oftebro, Norway wins. Hirvonen takes silver for Finland, Austria comes third. And Germany is only fourth again.

2:40 p.m.: Austria is beaten and Oftebro is pulling ahead. Hirvonen stay tuned, it’s all about gold!

2:38 p.m.: That’s too much for Geiger, Germany will miss the medal. Oftebro and Hirvonen are fighting for gold, Lamparter seems to be lagging behind, but he is virtually certain of bronze.

2:37 p.m.: Norway and Finland are at the front, Austria almost nine seconds behind. Germany is 33 seconds behind.

2:36 p.m.: Herola overtakes and accelerates – and Skoglund is standing! Lamparter is against it – and Rydzek? He is still around 22 seconds behind bronze.

2:35 p.m.: If the three at the front don’t screw up, that’s it for Germany. Skoglund and Herola pull away from Rettenegger. Rydzek is catching up slightly on the Austrian.

2:34 p.m.: It’s 24 seconds – that’s an incredible amount!

2:33 p.m.: Where is Geiger? The first three are in the stadium and arrive at the changeover. The German has to catch up on his own – and Rydzek has to wait.

Fall of Geiger! Germany is falling behind in snow chaos

2:31 p.m.: JHe is now almost 14 seconds behind the leading trio.

2:30 p.m: Geiger fell twice, what’s that? First he slips and falls into the Japanese, then he falls again.

2:29 p.m.: Seventh change, the order is as usual – and it’s Japan again. Italy has lost a bit again.

2:28 p.m.: The “Zorzi Hill” can’t be fun in snowfall. Skoglund jumps up the slope, outside where the snow is very deep. Rydzek fights for the connection that Watabe loses for Japan. There were only four left.

2:27 p.m.: Rettenegger has the faxes thick and presses the tube, the rest follows. Italy already sees the group.

Group of five together! It’s about the medals

2:26 p.m.: Rydzek takes over again, the group is still together. But they are strolling, Italy is catching up. And no one in the group can want that.

2:25 p.m.: Oftebro doesn’t want to rest at all, it seems. Shortly before the change, the Norwegian goes forward again.

2:23 p.m.: Lamparter has mercy and goes forward. Only Geiger makes absolutely no move to get involved at the front. This is also normal – he is considered a fox who then takes advantage of this.

2:22 p.m.: Oftebro looks around – doesn’t anyone else want to do the management work? Apparently not, the Norwegian continues to lead the way.

2:20 p.m.: The five skate into the stadium as if strung together on a string of pearls. When changing, the order remains unchanged.

2:19 p.m.: The five climb the climb on the circuit, the so-called “Zorzi Hill”. So far no one has shown any weaknesses.

2:18 p.m.: Let it go, John! Rydzek remains in 4th position, where he took over from Geiger. Skoglund, the Norwegian, is leading the way.

2:16 p.m.: Rydzek takes over again, the group of five is reunited.

2:15 p.m.: Geiger opens up a mini-gap with Finland, Austria and Norway, which he has to close again. And it continues to snow heavily.

2:14 p.m.: Oftebro creates a small gap, but the group is back on the climb. They won’t let it go.

2:13 p.m.: Geiger lets other runners take the lead. Oftebro takes the lead, the German initially goes to the back of the group.

2:12 p.m.: Next change, Rydzek hands over to 1, followed by four more runners.

Lead is gone! Rydzek and Geiger fight in the snowfall

2:11 p.m.: And that’s the top five combined. Norway and the trio from Austria, Finland and Japan are with Germany.

2:10 p.m.: Rydzek is building slightly on the Norwegian, but the group behind is catching up mercilessly.

2:09 p.m.: There are just under four seconds left! The trio is behind by around 14 seconds.

2:08 p.m.: Rydzek is waiting for Geiger, who is already on his way to the stadium again. How much does Geiger bring with him?

2:06 p.m.: Geiger is doing well and is maintaining his lead over Norway. Behind them, the trio is catching up a bit and is still around 15 seconds behind the leaders.

2:04 p.m.: First change, Rydzek hands over to Geiger. The lead over Norway has shrunk to 7.7 seconds. And Finland, Austria and Japan have also caught up.

2:03 p.m.: The Finland/Japan/Austria trio is united and is chasing Germany and Norway.

2:01 p.m.: The Finn Ilkka Herola and the Austrian Stefan Rettenegger run together. You already have your eye on the Japanese Akito Watabe.

2 p.m.: Let’s go! Johannes Rydzek is the first to go onto the trail while thick snowflakes fall from the sky. Norway, Japan, Finland, Austria and France follow.

Interim result after jumping (distance in seconds)

1. Germany
2. Norway + 13 seconds
3. Japan + 21 seconds
4. Finland + 27 seconds
5. Austria + 29 seconds
6. France + 32 seconds

Rydzek and Geiger strong! Germany leads in cross-country skiing

10.27 a.m. – Johannes Lamparter (AUT): The Austrian has to make up for Rettenegger’s weak jump, but he can’t. 124 meters – he doesn’t lose to Geiger, but the gap remains at just under half a second.

10.26 a.m. – Vinzenz Geiger (GER): He jumps for first place, wide ski position – and a good jump, better than in training! 122.5 meters and space for Germany!

10.25 a.m. – Jens Luuras Oftebro (NOR): 123 meters, 1st place for the strong Norwegian.

10:24 a.m. – Ilkka Herola (FIN): It’s 126 meters, although he didn’t get off the take-off table well. It’s 2nd place for now.

10:23 a.m. – Ryota Yamamoto (JAP): The jump is good, but not very good. 125.5 meters are still enough for first place.

10.22 a.m. – Marco Heinis (FRA): 124.5 meters – the lead for the French, strong jump from Heinis!

10:21 a.m. – Aaron Kostner (ITA): 106.5 meters is not a bomb’s distance – he is already well behind and the best nations are still coming.

10:20 a.m. – Kristian Ilves (EST): The strong Estonian had to hit one because his partner Teder didn’t jump well. He reaches 127 meters and limits his team’s deficit.

10:19 a.m. – Benjamin Loomis (USA): The US boy sets the next mark after some athletes who were rated as weaker – but his partner Malacinski was stronger. Nevertheless, he takes the lead.

Rydzek jumps German team into the lead! Now comes Geiger

10.14 a.m. – Stefan Rettenegger (AUT): The Austrian falls, not a good jump. Only 116 meters – in seconds that’s 28.

10.13 a.m. – Johannes Rydzek (GER): Germany is there! It’s 123 meters – and Rydzek takes the lead after the test run was already strong!

10.12 a.m. – Andreas Skoglund (NOR): He takes the lead! 124 meters is enough for him.

10.11 a.m. – Eero Hirvonen (FIN): The Finn ends up slightly behind Japan and is currently eleven seconds behind on the trail. But Herola is still coming.

10:10 a.m. – Akito Watabe (JAP): The Japanese jumps 119 meters and is eight seconds behind the USA in terms of running time. But he was only the first jumper.

10:06 a.m.: The first athletes have already jumped, Germany is next with start number 13. Johannes Rydzek makes the start for Germany.

Before the last chance for a medal for the Germans Nordic Combined Johannes Rydzek gives hope at the Winter Olympics in Italy. The 34-year-old, who is representing national coach Eric Frenzel’s team in the team sprint this Thursday together with Vinzenz Geiger, showed improvement in ski jumping training in Predazzo compared to the previous day.

With jumps of 129 and 131.5 meters he took third and second place. Many strong competitors skipped training. Rydzek’s performance should still encourage national coach Eric Frenzel’s team.

The last time completely without medals was in 1998

The day before, Rydzek had jumped 123.5 meters in the individual on the large hill and had no chance of winning any medals before the decisive cross-country skiing race. This also applied to Geiger, who landed after 120.5 meters. The 28-year-old 2022 Olympic champion skipped training.

In order not to leave the Winter Games completely without any precious metal for the first time since 1998, a podium finish is needed in the team sprint. «We are all highly motivated. “We won’t let ourselves be defeated so quickly and will definitely attack again,” said Geiger after the disappointing individual. The jumping starts at 10 a.m., the cross-country skiing race in Tesero starts at 2 p.m. (ARD and Eurosport).