Combiner Manuel Faißt (Baiersbronn) missed his second podium position at the World Cup in Hakuba, Japan. In the absence of the German Pyeongchang riders around record world champion Johannes Rydzek and Olympic champion Eric Frenzel, the 24-year-old had to settle for fifth place one day after his third place in the opening race to finish on Sunday.
The Norwegian Jan Schmid secured his third win of the season with a 6.6-second lead over the Estonian Kristjan Ilves. Japan’s top combination rider Akito Watabe, who had won his fourth World Cup race in series on Saturday in Hakuba, finished third (+11.1). Watabe successfully defended his lead in the overall World Cup, but with 905 points he leads only just ahead of Schmid (885).
Among the best combiners, just under a week before the Olympic Games began in Pyeongchang (9th place) were the best players. till 25. February) only Watabe and Schmid in Japan. The Olympic nominated Rydzek, Frenzel, Fabian Rießle, Vinzenz Geiger and Björn Kircheisen complete the final preparation phase in Oberstdorf.
Second-best German in Hakuba was Terence Weber (Geyer) in tenth place on Sunday, ahead of Tobias Simon (Breitnau) in eleventh place. David Welde (Sohland) also collected World Cup points in 21st place.