Not fair? New World Cup format under discussion

On Friday (11.00 a.m./15.00 p.m.) the men start in Ruka with an Individual Compact, in which instead of points, the rankings in jumping determine the gaps for the cross-country skiing over 7,5 km. The innovation was tested once in the summer GP, but not everyone was convinced. Defending World Cup champion Johannes Lamparter, who placed third in the test in Villach, also found a weak point. “I find the fixed distance table interesting. A cool format,” said the Tyrolean before the first triple of the season, but criticized the equal ranking in the lower regions of the result lists. “You can’t equate a 60m jump with an 80m jump. Less fair, but more exciting? The fixed time intervals belong further back.” Jens Luraas Oftebro, second in the last World Cup season, sees it similarly. “It would be fairer differently, but it’s more compact now. It will be interesting,” explained the Norwegian, considering that the gaps are getting smaller and smaller and are a maximum of 1:30 minutes. Last winter's best cross-country skier sees himself being even more challenged on the cross-country ski trail at the Compact. “It gets tighter and more exciting until the finish line, so I have to be at my top level. Jumping is no longer as important,” said Oftebro. Specifically, the person in second place on the hill is six seconds behind the best, the third person is 12 seconds behind, etc. - regardless of the points deficit. Lamparter also believes “that a lot can happen. But I would still say: the best combiner is back in front.” Cross-country skiers have an advantage Even FIS race director Lasse Ottesen admitted that the compact format might not be fair. But there are also the mass start competitions with an emphasis on ski jumping and the races according to the Gundersen method with the same weighting. Julian Schmid, third in the previous overall World Cup, was not at the Villach test, but the German welcomes the introduction, especially for Ruka. “The time gaps have been quite large in recent years. So it can be exciting.” The compact doesn't suit Jarl Magnus Riiber, who is also a good cross-country skier but an outstanding ski jumper, but Lamparter still sees the Norwegian as the favorite to win the overall World Cup. The fact that the 22-year-old from Rum interrupted Riiber's series of balls is also due to the rival's health-related break before the World Championships in Planica, where Riiber, who had been cold for more than a month this fall, once again excelled.

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Not fair? New World Cup format under discussion

The winter competition in Nordic combined begins with a new format. However, this causes discussions in advance.

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