Geiger and Schmid Sprint to Ruka Podium

Nordic Combined World Cup: Geiger and Schmid Sprint to Ruka Podium

On November 29, 2024, Germany's Nordic combined athletes made a strong start in the World Cup season with a double podium finish in Ruka, marking a significant improvement from the previous year. Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid finished behind the dominant Jarl Magnus Riiber of Norway, who claimed his 62nd career World Cup victory.

The 7.5-kilometer race was a fast-paced event, designed for a sprinting challenge rather than the traditional Gundersen method over 10 kilometers, which also added to the excitement. Both Geiger and Schmid expressed satisfaction with their results, with Schmid emphasizing his happiness at reaching the podium despite strong competition.

Conditions earlier in the day had affected the ski jumping component, which was canceled due to high winds. This change allowed Geiger, who performed excellently in the prior day's jump, to start from a competitive position (fifth). Throughout the race, the athletes rallied against Riiber, leading to an exciting finish.

The results offered hope to the German team, who last season had struggled to secure podium finishes, showing that they are back in form this year.

Overall, the event not only set a positive tone for Geiger and Schmid's campaign but also for the entire German team in the Nordic combined events moving forward.