Rydzek wins in German triple victory

Rydzek ends long dry spell

The 32-year-old wins his first World Cup since 2019. Julian Schmid and Vinzenz Geiger complete an outstanding result for DSV.

Leading the way, Johannes Rydzek, the German combined team has continued their dream start into the World Championship winter. Just a day after the double podium finish of Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid, the 2018 Olympic champion celebrated his first World Cup victory in nearly six years in Kuusamo, Finland. Schmid finished in second place and Geiger in third, completing a sensational result for the German Ski Association (DSV).

The last time the German combiners achieved a three-way victory was almost exactly three years ago, also in Kuusamo. On November 27, 2021, Terence Weber, Eric Frenzel, and Geiger claimed the top three spots. Rydzek's last World Cup success was in January 2019 in the Italian Val di Fiemme.

Rydzek wins for the first time since 2019

"Incredible, I can hardly believe it myself," enthused head coach Frenzel on ZDF: "I am super proud of the boys and what they have shown for an entry here." Particularly, the victory of Rydzek, who, according to Frenzel, "fought so hard to come back over the last season and summer," is something they will "enjoy with him; it's beautiful to see."

After Geiger and Schmid had only been beaten by Norwegian dominator Jarl Magnus Riiber on Friday, the combiners exceeded last winter's tally after just two races. Last season, they managed only three podium finishes. Riiber finished fourth on Saturday.

Rydzek benefited from the changing wind at the Arctic Circle and, after a dream jump of 142.0 m, went into the ski leg with a substantial 47-second lead over his closest pursuers. "I never even dreamed that I would be leading here by over 40 seconds," Rydzek said after the race on ZDF's microphone: "This is a bit surreal."

Last season, the German men's team went without a win for the first time in 25 years. Three third places by Manuel Faißt (2) and David Mach (1) were the only podium finishes in the end. On Sunday (8:30 AM / 12:30 PM), the combiners have yet another mass start event ahead.