December 20, 2013 (Soldier Hollow, Utah) – Olympic champion Bill Demong (USA) took the victory at the last Contintental Cup taking place in Utah Olympic Park /Soldier Hollow. The American star crossed the finish line 23 seconds faster than yesterday’s winner Tomaz Druml. France’s Hugo Buffard claimed the third spot on the podium, finishing 41 seconds after Demong.

Demong, fresh off a season-best top 10 at a World Cup in Austria on Sunday, flew back specifically to ski in the Dec. 17-19 Continental Cup and earn an additional World Cup quota spot for the USA that is vital for the team’s Sochi preparation. He was successful in his quest.

The U.S. veteran had already been in the lead after the jumping leg with a 95.5-metre jump. With a total of 125.5 points, this meant a head start of 40 seconds over second-placed Harald Lemmerer from Austria. Fellow Austrian Philipp Orter followed in third with 113.5 points and 48 seconds behind. Tomaz Druml and Johannes Wasel were tied for fourth and followed Demong on the track 52 seconds later. Hugo Buffard had one minute and two seconds to make up on Demong after an intermediate rank eight, shared with his teammate Samuel Guy and Italy’s Guiseppe Michielli.

In the race, Demong was able to ski an undisputed victory into the finish, needing only the sixth fastest cross-country time to secure his second win and third podium of the weekend. Hot on his heels was yesterday’s winner Druml who pursued Demong over the whole race but didn’t fully manage to catch up. Buffard skied a courageous race from the intermediate eighth rank onto the podium.”This morning it was difficult because it was snowing. But I’m happy with my jump. It was hard for the race because the track was soft and wet – not very fast. But I had a good race. This is my first time in Soldier Hollow. It’s a nice place to be,” he concluded.

Lukas Runggaldier had another good result as fourth. Again, the Austrian team was the most successful one, placing another five athletes among the Top Ten with Druml on two, Lemmerer on six and Greiderer, Orter and Martin on eight, nine and ten.

For the overall, this means a lead for Demong with 280 points over Druml’s 240 and Runggaldier is in third with 190 points. The next Continental Cup competitions will take place in Hoeydalsmo,Norway on the 11th and 12th of January.