Combined Jump in Ruka Canceled – Norwegian Star Starts First in Cross-Country

Combined Jump in Ruka Canceled – Norwegian Star Starts First in Cross-Country

The combined jumping event in Ruka was blown away due to the strong winds, making it impossible for Jarl Magnus Riiber and the elite competitors to jump. As a result, the outcome of Thursday's provisional round will be used to determine the start order for the cross-country race later today.

The jury made the decision just over an hour before the event was set to start, having already seen the training round canceled due to the weather.

The combined chief, Stuan, understood the jury's decision, stating, "It is almost impossible to jump. I would be very surprised if the event happens. It doesn't look good."

Additionally, Thursday’s provisional round had been severely impacted by strong winds, which made conditions unstable for the athletes. However, Jarl Magnus Riiber managed an impressive jump of 144.5 meters, winning the event prior to the cancellation.

Riiber has Austrian Franz-Josef Rehrl closely following him for the race, with further Austrians Thomas Rettenegger and Johannes Lamparter starting behind. In the combined event, the leader after the jump will have a six-second advantage in the cross-country race, while this distance remains the same regardless of points gained during the jump.

Competitors such as Espen Andersen, Jørgen Graabak, and Sebastian Østvold will be starting in the next positions, with Jens Lurås Oftebro at a disadvantage in 44th, but with only one and a half minutes behind the leader.

Looking ahead to Sunday, if the jumping cannot take place, the conditions may worsen for Riiber. The backup plan is to use the results of Thursday’s other provisional round, where Riiber struggled due to the wind and landed much lower on the leaderboard.

The combined chief voiced disappointment about the timing of the decision: "It’s a real shame. They should have postponed the event longer; we had enough time yesterday."