Kraft reels in World Cup pace-setters

The 25-year-old, who won two gold medals in Lahti, Finland in 2017, came top of the pile in Zakopane to move to within 22 points of third-placed Piotr Zyla in the overall standings.

A sublime haul of 145.4 points from his opening jump set Austrian Kraft on his way and he eventually racked up 278.3 overall to seal victory in the Large Hill event.

Norwegian Robert Johansson was second (275.7) while Japan's Yukiya Sato (273.3) took the final spot on the rostrum.

The World Cup circuit hits Japan next, with two Large Hill events scheduled in Okurayama on January 26 and 27.

Sportsbeat 2019