Press Release 29 November 2016

RUKA (FIN) CROWNS JOHANNES RYDZEK
FIS NK WORLD CUP IN VAL DI FIEMME NEXT JANUARY

Johannes Rydzek beats 'em all in Ruka (FIN)
The first two World Cup events go to the strong German
Val di Fiemme (Italy) to house three races from 13 to 15 January 2017
Italian Nordic Combined specialists will attempt to beat Germans and Norwegians 

The FIS Nordic Combined season kicked off in Ruka (Finland) and Johannes Rydzek took top honours, last weekend. Despite quite uncomfortable weather conditions, German young athlete jumped on the first step of both podiums ahead of countryman and four times World Cup winner Eric Frenzel who closed second in the first competition and way behind (17°) in the second event. Norwegian Jørgen Graabak, Japanese Akito Watabe and Austria's Wihelm Denifl showed good shape and skills, they all grabbed the podium, but never worried much Rydzek.
The World Cup circuit will move to Lillehammer in a few days and from 13 to 15 January 2017 will land to Italy's Val di Fiemme. Both the SJ and the XC stadiums in Predazzo and Lago di Tesero will host an adrenalinic three-day long event together with World's best NK specialists. The Val di Fiemme agenda reads two 10k Individual Gundersen events followed by a spectacular Team Sprint race, all accompanied with a sweet and tasty 'Jump in the Breakfast' event that will offer cappuccino and croissant to all spectators in the arena.
After the two wins in Ruka, Rydzek certainly gained more credibility in the World Cup environment. However, Eric Frenzel remains the man to beat and several other athletes such as Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber, Jørgen Graabak and Magnus Krog, Japan's Watabe and Germany's Fabian Rießle are expected to get back on track in the next events including the three competitions on the Italian Dolomites. Needless to say, the Italian squad might also say something and ...properly entertain its crowd next January.
Info: www.fiemmeworldcup.com