Austria’s Eva Pinkelnig extends World Cup lead with victory in Hinzenbach to close in on Crystal Globe

Austria’s Eva Pinkelnig extended her World Cup lead with a sixth win of the season in Hinzenbach as teenage prodigy Nika Prevc recorded a lifetime best.

With closest challenger Katharina Althaus of Germany only managing a fourth-best total score of 246.5 points, Pinkelnig had the chance to move one step closer to a first-ever Crystal Globe.

A huge leap of 91.5m, the biggest of the day, capitalised on Althaus’ slip up and handed the 34-year-old a second season win on home snow, and a 189-point advantage in the overall standings.

Pinkelnig also displaced Ema Klinec to second, the sixth time in the last nine events the Slovenian has taken silver as she continues the hunt for a maiden gold of her campaign.

A lot is expected of Klinec’s compatriot Prevc, whose three brothers also compete in the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup and whose father is an international ski jumping referee.

And the 17-year-old earned a first podium of her career, eclipsing her previous record finish of seventh, with a round-highest 129.9 points in her final jump.

The Hinzenbach double-header continues tomorrow morning, the first round starting at 9am CET.