Slovenia's Peter Prevc won the New Year's Day leg of the Four Hills at the German resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen ahead of Norway's Kenneth Gangnes.

Prevc triumphed with a total of 272.7 points ahead of Gangnes on 260.1 points as the Slovenian strengthened his position atop the overall World Cup standings.

After his fourth victory of the season, he has 724 points and holds a huge lead over the German Severin Freund, who has 559 points after finishing third on the day in front of his own fans with 256.8 points.

Freund was unable to follow up his win at Oberstdorf on Tuesday but will hope to make up some of the lost ground at the next leg of the prestigious Four Hills event at Innsbruck in Austria on Sunday.

The last leg of the competition will also be in Austria, at Bischofshofen on January 6.

Results (after two jumps):

1. Peter Prevc (SLO) 272.7 pts (133.5 + 136m), 2. Kenneth Gangnes (NOR) 260.1 pts (132 + 134m), 3. Severin Freund (GER) 256.8 pts (133.5 + 132.5m), 4. Johann Andre Forfang (NOR) 250.8 pts (128 + 133.5m), 5. Michael Hayboeck (AUT) 247.3 pts (131 + 132m), 6. Richard Freitag (GER) 243.6 pts (130 + 127.5m)

Overall World Cup standings (after 9 events):

1. Peter Prevc (SLO) 724 pts, 2. Severin Freund (GER) 559, 3. Kenneth Gangnes (NOR) 490
Source: AFP