Prevc wins in Garmisch, Freund finishes third

Prevc (pictured above, right) produced jumps of 133.5 and 136 meters for 272.7 points on Friday to win the second event of the annual tournament, which features two events each in Germany and Austria.

"I managed to do two of the best jumps in Garmisch," Prevc told German public broadcaster ZDF afterwards. "I have to continue as good as I can. I have to be in attack mode."

Norway's Kenneth Gangnes came in second, ahead of Germany's Severin Freund (above, left), whose jumps of 133.5 and 132.5 meters meant he had to settle for third place with 256.8 points on the day.

Although it was Freund's best-ever performance at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, it meant that he lost the overall lead that he had earned by winning the first event at Oberstdorf on Tuesday. However, Freund, who is aiming to become Germany's first overall winner of the tournament since Sven Hannawald swept all four events in 2002, is within striking distance of Prevc, the new overall leader, as the jumpers travel to Innsbruck for Sunday's third of the Four Hills.

"Of course I would have like to have held onto the (overall) lead," Freund said afterwards. "But I can live with a third-place finish. It was by far my best performance at Garmisch, a very good result."

Freund stressed that he had by no means given up on his goal of winning the overall title.

"There are two exciting hills ahead of us; a lot can still happen," he said.

With his victory at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Prevc also added to his lead in the World Cup standings, with 572.6 points, compared to 564 for Freund, the defending champion, who is in second place.