For so long has Janne Ahonen dominated this season's World Cup that we have forgotten what a real competition it like.
Last Sunday's seventh place at Titisee-Neustadt saw Ahonen drop from the podium for the first time this winter. Today's fourth place continues Ahonen's semi-demise, making it two from two.
But such an occurrence is not badly received by ski jumping fans world wide, especially in Poland, and more to the point, in the 40,000-seated stadium at Zakopane.
The Polish hoards came out in their masses to support their national icon Adam Malysz, and the man proved to the world that he's much more than a Pinocchio-nosed moustache connoisseur.
The whe win today was not 100% in favour of Malysz for he had to share it with Norway's Roar Ljoekelsoey, yet it was a fitting way to finish a fine duel on the beautiful natural ski jumping ramp at Zakopane.
Ljoekelsoey led after the first round with a fine jump of 130-metres, with Malysz poised in second after his 129.5-metre effort and Finland's Risto Jussilainen in third.
The Finn impressed with a full 130-metres, a great feat considering his present 15th place in the World Cup standings.
If there was one Finn the crowds were expecting to really fly it was Ahonen, but the runaway World Cup leader disappointed with a comparative trickle at 124.5-metres.
As things were, Ahonen was a huge 11 points behind the trio at the top, that is to say around six-metres. It already looked a bridge too far.
Before the top four countdown, the second run saw two stellar performances which stood out from the rest.
First, Michael Uhrmann of Germany assured a season and personal best with his tenth-place, while Jernej Damjan of Slovenia also posted a career best with his World Cup fifth.
Ahonen kept the Finn fans believing when he propelled himself into the hot-seat after a second-round 126-metre, but we all knew that it would not be enough for a podium foray.
Fellow Finn Jussilainen took his crown by leaping 123-metre, before Adam Malysz sent the crowd into overdrive with a huge 131-metre catapult.
The Polish Eagle had indeed landed (rather wobbly, admittedly), and the Tatra Mountain range reverberated with cries and cheer!
But all went silent when Roar Ljoekelsoey came to earth at the 128m mark. For a few anxious seconds no one was sure who had won, before a joint points total of 268.9 suddelnly flashed upon the big screen.
Norway and Poland united in applause, and this was reflected in Ljoekelsoey's hug with his ecstatic opponent.
It was the Norwegian's first win of the season, and Malysz's third following victories in Harrachov and Bad Mitterndorf.
Risto Jussilainen finished third on 254.5 points, while compatriot Ahonen came fourth with 252.4 points.
Ahonen still reigns the overall standings with 1446 points, followed by Jakub Janda (950) and Austria's Martin Hoellwarth (896), disappointing today in 11th and 6th respectively.
Adam Malysz is the Saturday's big winner, and now lies just two points behind Hoellwarth in fourth.
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