Ski jumping

Austria's defending World Cup champion Gregor Schlierenzauer made up for his poor start to the tournament leaping 136.5 and 137.5 meters to post a winning score of 277.7 points in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in southern Germany.

His compatriot Wolfgang Loitzl twice jumped 135 meters to come in second on 272.5 points.

Although Switzerland's Simon Ammann set a new venue record with a leap of 143.5 meters, it wasn't enough to make up for an earlier jump of 132 meters, and he finished in third place on 272.4 points.

"The New Year has started off well - that was really a perfect day," said Schlierenzauer, who only managed to place ninth on the first leg of the tournament in Oberstdorf last Tuesday. He put the poor start down to a stomach infection.

Kofler retains Four Hills lead

The winner of Oberstdorf, Austrian Andreas Kofler, came fourth in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. He scored 271.9 points with jumps of 136 and 137 meters, though he still retains the lead in the four-venue competition as it prepares to head down to Austria.

His nearest rival in the Four Hills standings is fellow Austrian Loitzl, who is twenty points behind. Another five points behind him is Finnish five-time overall winner Janne Ahonen.

The mainly German crowd of 25,000 spectators had little to cheer for. Germany's Pascal Bodmer and Martin Schmitt finished 16th and 25th respectively.

The Germans' Austrian coach, Werner Schuster, said his team was "jumping well below their potential."

The Austrian half of the tournament continues in Innsbruck on Sunday and finishes on January 6 in Bischofshofen.

nw/AFP/dpa
Editor: Sonia Phalnikar