Having finished second behind his German rival Severin Freund in the opening event in Oberstdorf, the International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup leader triumphed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to take over at the top of the standings and consolidated his lead with this latest victory.

Prevc began the competition with a leap of 125 metres but found himself lying in second position after Norway’s Kenneth Gangnes continued the form which saw him earn a podium finish on New Year’s Day, producing an impressive effort of 126.5m.

He was unable to replicate the effort with his second run, however, managing only 124m, enabling Prevc the opportunity to secure back-to-back victories.

He grasped the chance by achieving the furthest jump of the day of 132m to score a total of 269.5 points.

Gangnes had to settle for third place after being overtaken by Freund, last year’s World Cup winner, who performed admirably having fallen during the trial round and suffered bruises.

The Sochi 2014 Olympic and reigning world champion had achieved a first round effort of 122.5m but a longer effort of 128m saw him rise up the standings to end in second position on 258.4 points.

Gangnes finished on 251.5 points  to repeat his podium place from Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Freund is now 20.3 points behind Prevc’s total of 842.1 in the overall Four Hills tournament standings, with the 23-year-old now looking set to become the first Slovenian to win the event since Primož Peterka in 1997.

It would also be the first time since 2008 that an Austrian has failed to claim the overall title and none of their jumpers currently occupy places in the top three as Gangnes’ third place in Innsbruck pushed Michael Hayboeck into fourth, 1.2 points behind the Norwegian.

The ski jumpers will enjoy rest day tomorrow before qualification for the final event in the Austrian city of Bischofshofen is scheduled to take place on Tuesday ( January 5), with the final due to take place the following day.