Ida Marie Hagen claimed her second consecutive victory in the FIS Nordic Combined Continental Cup at Lugnet. On the men’s side, it was an Italian win after great drama in front of packed stands.
Ida Marie Hagen is the world’s leading athlete in Nordic Combined. Today she secured her second straight win in the Continental Cup competitions at Lugnet, doing so after a very strong cross-country performance. She won the morning’s cross-country segment by 55 seconds:
— I’m in good shape in cross-country skiing. I actually liked yesterday’s course even better. It was a bit tougher and suits me better, Hagen says.
However, it became exciting in the jumping segment. Hagen didn’t quite get it right on the hill. She jumped 86.5 meters, while American Alexa Brabec delivered a 95-meter jump.
— My jumping on Friday was clearly better, but I’m happy it was enough for the win. I’m looking forward to competing in the team event tomorrow. And of course also the World Championships next year. Then we’ll get to compete on the large hill as well, and I’m really looking forward to that, says Hagen.
The men’s competition was very thrilling. After the morning’s cross-country race, a trio of athletes had pulled away to take a lead heading into the ski jumping. Once there, however, things changed dramatically. Finland’s Herman Happonen, who was tenth in the cross-country segment, produced a superb 95-meter jump and climbed all the way up to second place. The margin to the winning Italian, Iacopo Bortolas, was just 1.1 points. Bortolas had finished sixth in the cross-country segment.
— I understood that the chance was there to achieve something really big after the cross-country race, because ski jumping is my strength, even though I’ve become a more consistent cross-country skier, says Bortolas, who secured victory with a 94.5-meter jump.
— It was a really nice day. Good weather, lots of spectators, and it went quite well too, smiles the 22-year-old Bortolas, who is aiming to return to Lugnet next year to compete at the World Championships.
— That’s a big goal. I’m really looking forward to coming back next year. It will be really exciting to have the World Championships here next year.
On Sunday, the Continental Cup competitions in Nordic combined at Lugnet conclude with the team event.
Photo: Ulf Palm