Ilkka Herola rose from afar to fight for the second podium finish of the season. It delighted Sports expert Tommi Niku.
Ilkka Herola rose to the podium in the combined World Cup in Schonach.
After the normal hill, Herola started from the 19th place for the 10 km cross-country ski run. Journey to number one Jarl Magnus Riiberiin was 1 minute and 55 seconds. Even the podium was tight for 1 minute and 24 seconds.
However, Herola made it to the podium race again with mute skiing. Leaving for the final 2.5-kilometer lap, Riiber had escaped his own way, but Herola battled for other top spots Johannes Lamparter, Vinzenz Geigerin and Jörgen Gråbakin with.
Herola was all the way to fight for the second podium finish of the season, but the rest of the season had more power. Herola was fifth in the final results. Lamparter was second, Gråbak third and Geiger fourth.
Sports Expert Tommi Nikunen found Herola’s skiing amazing.
– He had to start insanely hard and caught Gråbak for 20 seconds. Still, Ilka had enough strength to fight for the top spot in the podium. Ilkka had two tough opponents. There was no shame that he had to surrender. Absolutely great skiing! Nikunen glowed.
At the same time, Herola secured the award for best skier of the season. The Finn pays 6,000 Swiss francs, or almost 5,900 euros. Herola has already won the same award in the previous two seasons.
Riiber rose to first place in the all-time winning statistics alongside Hannu Manninen. Both now have 48 World Cup wins.
The final race of the combined World Cup season is scheduled for Sunday in Schnonach. Riiber, who missed the races this season due to a corona infection, rose to the top of the overall race by a point difference to Johannes Lamparter.
On Saturday, other Finns Eero Hirvonen and Arttu Mäkiaho reached World Cup points. Hirvonen was 18th and Mäkiaho 28th.