Ziga Jelar led this Friday the penultimate individual event of the Nordic Ski Jumping World Cup held in the Slovenian resort of Planicawhere he won ahead of three other local skiers: Peter Prevc, Anze Lanisek and Timi Zajc.
In the fight for the title, Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi, who finished fifth, took a big step towards overall World Cup victory and now he is 89 points ahead of German Karl Geiger, twelfth this Friday in Planica. The final individual test takes place on Sunday at 10:00 CET (08:00 GMT).
Ziga Jelar, who signed his first victory in the World Cup, won with two jumps of 232 and 239 meters and 468.2 points. After him finished Peter Prevc (226 + 237 and 464.8), Anze Lanisek (230 + 230.5 and 458.5), Timi Zajc (228 + 224 and 454.8). Ryoyu Kobayashi jumped 223.5+237 and added 452.8 points.
This Friday was the second time that four skiers of the same nationality took the first four places. In 1980 it was achieved by the Austrians Armin Kogler, Hubert Neuper, Toni Innauer and Claus Tuchscherer.
What’s more, with his first victory Jelar also takes the lead in the World Cup of Flight ahead of Zajc and the Austrian Stefan Kraft, sixth this Friday
The World Cup will be decided on Sunday. Kobayashi has an 89-point margin over Geiger. The Japanese Olympic champion only needs a 20th place to secure his second titleafter the one obtained in the 2018/19 season.