With Olympic champion Eric Frenzel and record world champion Johannes Rydzek at the top, the Nordic combined skiers of the DSV are entering the Olympic season.
German national coach Hermann Weinbuch nominated a total of eight athletes for the World Cup opener on Friday (14.30 at the LIVETICKER) in Kuusamo, Finland.
Frenzel (Oberwiesenthal), who celebrated his 29th birthday on Tuesday. For the sixth time in a row, it will be possible to win the overall World Cup and expand its record series. The toughest competitor is the six-time world champion Rydzek (Oberstdorf). Together, the duo won 18 of the 23 World Cup races last winter.
The DSV line-up also includes Fabian Rießle (Breitnau) and Björn Kircheisen (Johanngeorgenstadt), who also won World Cups in 2016/2017.
“The competition in the team is actually sufficient to remain fully motivated,”said Weinbuch, who is planning to build up a form in the direction of the Olympics:”We want to be good at the beginning, but not top form, of course. You can’t keep your top form for three months.”
The team is completed by Manuel Faißt (Baiersbronn), Vinzenz Geiger (Oberstdorf), Martin Hahn (Klingenthal) and Terence Weber (Geyer).
Manuel Faißt (Baiersbronn), Eric Frenzel (Oberwiesenthal), Vinzenz Geiger (Oberstdorf), Martin Hahn (Klingenthal), Björn Kircheisen (Johanngeorgenstadt), Fabian Rießle (Breitnau), Johannes Rydzek (Oberstdorf), Terrence Weber (Geyer).