The Burner is back! When Austria’s Bernhard Gruber crossed the finish line first in the Friday competition in Val di Fiemme, you really could feel a lot of weight dropping of his shoulders. For the first time since his victory in the pre-Olympic test events in Sochi in early 2013, the 32-year-old Austrian was back on the very top of the podium and he shouted his relief to the heavens after crossing the finish line.

While constantly performing within the Top Ten and being the best performer of the Austrian team in the seasons 2011/12 and 2012/13 with two fourth ranks in the overall standings, the victories don’t come easy for the resident of Bad Hofgastein which is why this success was only his fifth World Cup victory out of 176 starts. What is often keeping Gruber from defeating all opponents is an impulsive temper leading him to attack early or slide into slightly rash actions during a race.

But the same thing that blocks him from being a stone-cold finisher as the likes of Eric Frenzel or Joergen Graabak, gave Gruber wings on the Val di Fiemme weekend. Harnessing all of his passion and raw energy, Gruber attacked on the difficult cross-country track and on the jumping hills of a venue that clearly suits him and quite often, the competition did not stand a chance, as the ranks one, three and two of the past weekend prove.

„I had good memories from the World Championships in 2013 where I attacked on the last uphill and this was on my mind, so I did it again today and it was perfect“, Gruber said in the press conference after his win. „This is great for my self-confidence, to know that I can do it also in the end and win a sprint - I am really happy.“ And really, the Berni Gruber after his victory was a changed man compared to the sensitive, doubtful and frustrated athlete that he had been quite some times earlier in the season. In typical Berni „The Burner“-fashion, the avid musician celebrated his podiums with his signature guitar-move, showing the fans and media his positive, confident Alter Ego.