The Slovenia Times

Planica: Slovenia Triumphs in Team Event

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Holding the lead after the first series, the Slovenian team of Jurij Tepeš, Peter Prevc, Andraž Pograjc and Robert Kranjec did enough in the second series to retain the lead, much to the delight of a 20,000-strong crowd.

Slovenia finished the competition with a score of 1,561.8 points, 10.7 points ahead of Norway and 15.1 points ahead of Austria, who mounted strong challenges in the second series.

Poland was fourth with 1,543.2 points and the Czech Republic fifth with 1,511.6 points.

Spurred on by the home crowd, Slovenia led from start to finish, after Tepeš opened the proceedings with a jump of 223 metres, the second-longest mark of the day.

With jumps of over 200 metres by all four competitors, Slovenia had a handy lead after the first series. Austria, which was second for most of the series, was leapfrogged by Norway when Anders Bardal set the day's top mark with 230 metres.

The second series of jumps saw less favourable wind conditions and Slovenia was able to retain its lead despite its jumpers failing to go past 207 metres.

Norway kept second place with the help of a 217.5 metre effort by Rune Velta, while Austria held on to third despite a late challenge from Poland, which had a last round effort of 221.5 metres by Kamil Stoch.

"I have to say that the final series was extremely challenging, as the conditions were changing quickly. I'm happy that we were able to build a big lead in the first series," Slovenian coach Goran Janus said.

"Winning on home soil is the biggest achievement for a coach," Janus added.

The youngest member of the Slovenian team, Andraž Pograjc, who got a last minute call up to the team to replace Jaka Hvala, labelled the win "an unforgettable experience".

Likewise, Tepeš said the victory was the "sweetest of the season", a sentiment echoed by the veteran of the team, Robert Kranjec, who brought home the gold with a steady final jump under pressure.

The team win is Slovenia's third of the World Cup season, after successes on the hills in Zakopane and Willingen.

Planica is scheduled to hold the individual event on Sunday, in what will be the season finale.
 

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