Coline Mattel won in Sapporo ahead of Jacqueline Seifriedsberger and Anette Sagen.
The conditions during the first World Cup in Sapporo on Saturday were very difficult as the wind was changing steadily. Already in the first competition round a lot of breaks needed to be taken and also in view of the athlete’s safety eventually the final round was cancelled.
By jumping 93.0 meters and scoring 120.2 points Coline Mattel from France won the competition. “It was definitely not easy to jump today. We had to wait for quite a long time and had to stay focused and concentrated. I am glad that I managed to show such a good jump in the first round, so that I was able to win this competition. In view of tomorrow’s competition I will try to stay relaxed and to do my best.” This is Mattel’s second World Cup victory, after winning already in Sochi in December.
Second came Austria’s Jacqueline Seifriedsberger with a 94.5 meter jump. “Sapporo is well-known for those problems with the wind. For sure this competition round did not work out that well for everybody and I feel sorry about that. If it comes to me, I am very happy about my result and my jump.”
Norway’s Anette Sagen took the third place by jumping 87.5 meters. “Today it was a difficult competition for everyone, especially because the wind was changing so quickly, The jury had to do a really difficult job. With my jump I am not totally satisfied. My coach, however, is happy about it, so maybe I am the one who’s wrong.”
Fourth came Slovenia’s Eva Logar with a jump of 88.5 meters. Elena Runggaldier from Italy made the farthest jump of the day with 97.5 meters. But as she lost over 20 points due to the wind compensation rule, she only came fifth. With Line Jahr (85.0 m) another Norwegian took the sixth place.
World Cup leader Sara Takanashi from Japan came only 12th with an 85.0 meter jump. Nevertheless she is still in the lead of the overall World Cup with 692 points. New second is Mattel with 548 points. Third is now Sarah Hendrickson (USA), who came seventh with a jump of 87.5 meters today.
RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
Final results of the competition »
Current overall World Cup standings »
Current Nations Cup standings »