Back in Europe

After a succesful week winning both golds at the ski flying World Championships in Kulm, Austria, Roar Ljoekelsoey took advantage of the absence of Janda and Ahonen in Japan.

Ljoekelsoey finished second to Norwegian compatriot Bjoern Einar Romoeren on Sapporo's first hill.

On Sunday Roar won his first World Cup event of the season to claim third place in the standings in front of Switzerland's Andreas Kuettel, who joined Janda and Ahonen in opting out of travelling to the East.

The formerly dominant trio of trio Ahoenen, Kuettel, and the Czech Republic's Janda look to get back on track in the second-to-last contest before the Olympics. Ljoekelsoey is attemtping to recover from illness, which kept him from competing in the Norwegian national championships this week.

Romoeren, the World No. 8, won the Norwegian crown in front of Tommy Ingebrigtsen and Lars Bystoel.

Defending World Cup champion Janne Ahonen earned his ticket to Torino way back in December, but until this week it wasn't certain who his Olympic teammates would be.

Olympic bronze medallist Matti Hautamaeki, Risto Jussilainen, Janne Happonen, Joonas Ikonen and Tami Kiuru will take the trip to Italy along with Ahonen, as Finland will try to strip the Germans of the team title.

Germany also announced its squad, as World No. 4 Michael Uhrmann will be joined by Georg Spaeth, Martin Schmitt, Michael Neumayer and Alexander Herr.

All five will participate at Zakopane's World Cup contest on Saturday.