Schlierenzauer, Ammann duel for Grand Prix title
KLINGENTHAL, Germany — Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer narrowly won Friday’s FIS Summer Grand Prix jumping event over Simon Ammann to basically set up a winner-take-all event Saturday in the Czech Republic.
KLINGENTHAL, Germany — Austria’s Gregor Schlierenzauer narrowly won Friday’s FIS Summer Grand Prix jumping event over Simon Ammann to basically set up a winner-take-all event Saturday in the Czech Republic.
Switzerland’s Ammann won two straight competitions nearly a month ago in Hakuba, Japan, to seize the nine-event series lead from Schlierenzauer, who didn’t jump in Japan. But on Friday, in front of a crowd of nearly 13,000, Schlierenzauer jumped 139.5 and 138.5 meters and scored 282.5 points to beat Ammann by 2 points.
Entering Saturday’s final competition in Liberec, Schlierenzauer leads the series standings by three points over Ammann, 570 to 567. Germany’s Michael Uhrmann is a distant third at 332.
“I am very happy. It was the third time I competed in Klingenthal, and I achieved my third victory. This makes me proud,” Schlierenzauer said. “Of course I want to keep the leader position until the end of the Summer Grand Prix. It will be an exciting last duel with Simon Ammann.”
Ammann said he was satisfied with finishing second, adding that a poor landing helped cost him the victory.
About the Author: Pete Rugh
