L'Autriche, championne olympique et championne du monde en titre, a remporté samedi la première épreuve de la saison, le concours par équipes de Kuusamo (Finlande).

Les Autrichiens ont devancé avec 1231,4 points les Norvégiens (1163,4 pts) et les Japonais (1121,3 pts), tandis que l'Allemagne, vice-championne olympique 2010, a terminé au 7e rang.

La France, présente en Finlande avec deux sauteurs, n’était pas inscrite pour ce concours.

La Coupe du monde à proprement parler débute dimanche toujours à Kuusamo avec le duel attendu qui opposera le Suisse Simon Ammann, double-champion olympique 2010 et N.1 mondial sortant, aux Autrichiens Gregor Schlierenzauer et Thomas Morgenstern.

Le classement complet ICI

Statements of the Top 3 from Kuusamo (source FIS)

 Wolfgang Loitzl (AUT): “The wind conditions were difficult but all in all it was a good start of the season. It helps if you know you have Gregor Schlierenzauer, Thomas Morgenstern and Andi Kofler on the team because it’s easier to do a good job in the competition. The most important team competition will be in Oslo and I hope we can improve and get stronger because the other teams will improve as well. It’s good to achieve the first victory of the season, but the winter is long it’s and it’s still a long time to go until the World Championships.”

Anders Bardal (NOR): “Our goal was to improve last year’s result and we did that. Hopefully during the season we can get closer to the Austrians. I had a good competition today and I’m satisfied with how things are going for me. I’m on the right way. My jumps today were okay, nothing more and nothing less. Hopefully I can improve tomorrow. The main goals for the season for the team are the World Championships and the opening of the world’s largest hill in Vikersund.”

Noriaki Kasai (JPN) “It was really very cold here today. We are satisfied with our performance and the result. And now we hope we can finish second in the next competition.”

Photo : Nordic Focus