The intensity of the rain continued to increase in the second half of the contest, which began without teams from Kazakhstan and Finland, who did not make the top-eight cut off.
Joining the lead three nations of Austria, Germany and Slovenia, were outside medal contenders Poland and Japan, as well as a youthful Norway lined-up, together with Switzerland and the United States of America.
Karl Geiger (GER), who was part of Germany’s Mixed Team World Championships gold medal winning team on the Planica hill back in 2023, delivered a second successive strong jump of 226m, with Tschofenig soon confirming it would be a two-way battle for victory.
Halfway through the second round Poland led Slovenia in the hunt for bronze, with Austria’ advantage over rivals Germany down to just 0.6pts.
Conditions would not allow hill record holder Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN) to challenge his mark of 252m, but he would land the furthest jump of the day, with 235m, as Japan placed fifth behind Poland.