Ski jumping 21/22 : Geiger second at Olympic dress rehearsal – and back in yellow
Update Dusseldorf Karl Geiger finished second in the second ski jumping event in Willingen and jumped back into the yellow jersey. You won’t miss anything in our ski jumping telegram.
Ski jumping ace Karl Geiger said goodbye to the Winter Olympics with a podium finish and once again boosted his self-confidence at the dress rehearsal in Willingen. The ski jumping world champion from Oberstdorf had to admit defeat only to the Norwegian Marius Lindvik five days before the opening ceremony in Beijing. Geiger thus regained the lead in the overall World Cup after 24 hours.
After jumps of 139.5 and 140.0 m (238.7) Geiger, who was fifth after the first round, was three meters behind Lindvik (243.8). Third went to the Slovenian Cene Prevc (235,6). Previous day’s winner Ryoyu Kobayashi lost the yellow jersey again in fourth place.
Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf), third after the first round, plummeted to twelfth place with a weak second jump. On Saturday Geiger (20.) and Eisenbichler (30.) had to accept setbacks in the competition which was cancelled due to strong winds after the first round.
Willingen local hero Stephan Leyhe, brilliant sixth on Saturday, finished in 18th place. Andreas Wellinger finished 22nd in his comeback weekend after Corona infection and knee problems after twelfth place the day before.
Team World Champion Severin Freund (Rastbuchl), who is not nominated for the Olympics, could not continue his strong fourth place from Saturday and came in 25th place. The Beijing racers Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden/33.) and Constantin Schmidt (Oberaudorf/46.).
Althaus again second in Willingen
The Olympic silver medalist from Oberstdorf finished second in the second World Cup jumping event in Willingen on Sunday, as she did on Saturday. The 25-year-old also benefited from the absence of the dominating World Cup leader Marita Kramer, who tested positive for the corona virus.
In the competition, which was postponed several times due to gusty winds, Althaus flew to a strong 145 m (126.0 points) in her only run. She finished about three meters behind the Slovenian overall World Cup winner Nika Kriznar (131.6), who set a women’s jumping record on the Muhlenkopf hill with a dream jump to 151 meters. Third place went to Russia’s Alexandra Kustova (115.8), who jumped to 150 m. For Kustova it was the first podium finish in the World Cup, between November 2019 and May 2021 she served an 18-month ban for anti-doping rule violations.
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Already on Saturday, Althaus had convinced in the Olympic dress rehearsal in Sauerland in difficult wind conditions and had jumped with place two for the sixth time this winter on the podium. Kramer won on Saturday, after her positive Corona test the Winter Games in Beijing are in acute danger for her. The Austrian has to give four consecutive negative PCR tests to be able to compete in China. The oSV women had already left on Sunday morning as a result of the Corona case.
Selina Freitag (Aue) had to withdraw from the second individual on Sunday after her heavy fall on Saturday. However, the DSV expressed confidence that the 20-year-old will be able to compete at the Olympics.
The other German jumpers could not convince as already on Saturday. Juliane Seyfarth (Ruhla) finished 15th with 107 m, Pauline Hebler (Lauscha/93.5) was only 19th. Place. In total there were only 23 jumpers at the start on Sunday.
+++++30. January 2022+++++
Corona case: Austria’s female ski jumpers no longer compete
Due to a positive Corona test of a ski jumper, the complete Austrian women’s team will not compete at the World Cup in Willingen. As the world federation Fis announced on Sunday, the team management had decided, after consultation with the local authorities, to start the journey home with the entire women’s team. The affected athlete, whose name was not disclosed, had no symptoms and was immediately isolated, it continued.
What impact the Corona case will have on the participation of the jumpers in the Winter Olympics initially remained open. The Austrian ski jumpers with the overall World Cup leader, Marita Kramer, are among the strongest athletes in their sport. The Winter Games will open next Friday in Beijing. There are strict rules for the entry to China and several negative PCR tests are required.
+++++29. January 2022+++++
Geiger in Willingen only on rank 20 – Kobayashi again in yellow
The German ski jumping aces Karl Geiger and Markus Eisenbichler had bad luck with the wind in the first competition of the Olympic dress rehearsal in Willingen. Geiger (Oberstdorf) flew with 120.5 m (74.5 points) only on rank 20, Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf) saved himself in adverse wind conditions with 118.5 m (30 points)./64.9) just barely into the points. After the first round the jumping was cancelled.
The jumping was won by tour winner Ryoyu Kobayashi (Japan) after a flight to 145.0 m (115.6). Behind is the Norwegian Halvor Egner Granerud, who could win both singles in Willingen last year. Severin Freund (Rastbuchl), who was not nominated for the Olympics, surprised with a flight to 140.0 m (104.2 and took fourth place. Stephan Leyhe also convinced in his home country, the 30-year-old flew to sixth place (136.5m/97.0).
Olympic-nominated Constantin Schmid (Oberaudorf) is a strong eleventh, Andreas Wellinger was twelfth in his comeback after Corona infection and knee problems.
Not in Olympic form isPius Paschke (Kiefersfelden). 112,0 m were enough for rank 32 only.
Althaus second in Willingen
Althaus finished second in the first World Cup jumping event in Willingen on Saturday, beaten only by World Cup leader Marita Kramer (Austria). Due to difficult wind conditions, the second round was cancelled.
The Olympic silver medalist from Oberstdorf jumped to a strong 126.5 meters (77.1 points) and landed on the podium for the sixth time this winter. In the end, she was less than two meters short of dominator Kramer (80.2), who celebrated her sixth victory in the tenth World Cup jumping event. Third place went to Slovenia’s Ema Klinec (72.0).
"That was one of my better jumps today, that made me happy. For me it is the right decision to cancel the second round. Shortly before the Olympics, you don’t have to risk anything anymore", Althaus said on ZDF.
A heavy fall of Selina Freitag (Aue) overshadowed the competition. The 20-year-old lost control during the landing, but after a longer treatment break the Olympic skier gave the all-clear before she was taken to the hospital.
The other German jumpers could not convince. Juliane Seyfarth (Ruhla) finished 16th in the 100m, Pauline Hebler (Lauscha/78.5) only came in a shared 20th place. Place.
On Sunday (10 a.m./ZDF and Eurosport), another individual jumping competition is scheduled for the women in Willingen.
+++++28. January 2022+++++
Slovenia wins in ski jumping mixed – Germany in fourth place
The German ski jumpers finished fourth in the mixed competition in Willingen. Katharina Althaus, Markus Eisenbichler, Juliane Seyfarth and Karl Geiger had to admit defeat to the winning Slovenian team, Norway and the third-placed Austrians on the Grobe Muhlenkopfschanze on Friday.
For the quartet of the German Ski Federation the competition was also a dress rehearsal for the Olympic premiere of the format. It did not succeed optimally. A mixed team competition will be held for the first time at the Winter Games, which open next Friday in Beijing. As world champion, Germany is one of the favorites to win a medal there.
+++++26. January 2022+++++
Wellinger back in World Cup lineup after positive Corona test
Olympic ski jumping champion Andreas Wellinger is back in the German lineup for the World Cup after his positive Corona test last weekend. This was announced by the German Ski Association (DSV) before the competitions in Willingen on Wednesday. Wellinger and the DSV had reported the findings last Friday, the 26-year-old Bavarian therefore also had to skip the weekend in Titisee-Neustadt. Wellinger thus also missed out on the last chance to qualify for the Olympics in sporting terms. For Beijing, he is only a substitute behind the nominated Karl Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler, Stephan Leyhe, Pius Paschke and Constantin Schmid.
The program for the Olympic dress rehearsal includes a mixed on Friday and two singles on Saturday and Sunday. "On Friday we will have a really packed program. We are looking forward to this and hope that we can be as successful as we were last time in the Black Forest," said national coach Stefan Horngacher. In Titisee-Neustadt top athlete Karl Geiger had won both singles.
+++ 23- January +++
Karl Geiger wins again in Titisee-Neustadt
Double winner Karl Geiger and Markus Eisenbichler presented themselves in strong Olympic form at the ski jumpers’ home World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt. Geiger won on Sunday with jumps to 131 and 143 meters, further extending his lead in the overall World Cup standings. Eisenbichler finished third in the Black Forest with flights to 135 and 134.5 meters. Both German jumpers repeated their placings of the previous day. Second place went to Slovenian Anze Lanisek.
From the team of national coach Stefan Horngacher at the end of the weekend also Stephan Leyhe as tenth, Justin Lisso (13.), Severin Freund (14.), Constantin Schmid (16.), Philipp Raimund (19.) and Richard Freitag (21.) still World Cup points. Pius Paschke, who is part of the Olympic team like Geiger, Eisenbichler, Leyhe and Schmid, was eliminated after the first round.
Schmid and Paschke nominated for Beijing – out for Wellinger and Freund
Constantin Schmid and Pius Paschke are the last German ski jumpers to be nominated for the Winter Games in Beijing, but for Andreas Wellinger the dream of a third Olympic gold medal has been shattered. The sporting management around national coach Stefan Horngacher reported to the deadline on Sunday morning youngster Schmid (Oberaudorf) and veteran Paschke ( Kiefersfelden ) to the DOSB, in addition to Wellinger (Ruhpolding), who tested positive for Corona on Friday, also Sochi Olympic champion Severin Freund ( Rastbuchl ) misses the trip to China.
Schmid (Oberaudorf) and Paschke (Kiefersfelden) will thus be out of 4. to 20. February to compete in their first Olympic Games. The top jumpers Karl Geiger (Oberstdorf) and Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf) as well as Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) had already been appointed to the five-man men’s team.
Wellinger, who has just returned to the team after knee problems, had tested positive on Friday before qualifying for the World Cup jumping event in Titisee-Neustadt, but according to his statement the CT value was only just below the limit of 30 that is usual in Germany. The lower the CT value, the higher the viral load in the body, as a rule. At the Winter Games in Beijing, however, 40 is set as the limit, leaving question marks for Wellinger.
Of the competitors for the last starting positions, only Schmid was able to score in the last and for the nomination decisive jumping on Saturday in the Black Forest, who came eighth. Veteran Freund, who had only joined the World Cup team for the Four Hills Tournament, missed out as 17. the second top-15 finish needed to meet the standard. Paschke, who has been in poor form lately, only came in 33rd place.
+++++22. January 2022+++++
Geiger wins ski jumping World Cup – Eisenbichler third
Ski jumper Karl Geiger celebrated his third victory of the season at the World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt. The 28-year-old from Oberstdorf prevailed in the Black Forest ahead of Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek and his teammate Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf). On top of that, Geiger reclaimed the overall World Cup lead from Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi, who finished fifth.
Geiger jumped in the Black Forest on 132.0 and 141.0 m (288.3 points) and was ahead of Lanisek (283.1), who was leading after the first round. Geiger’s twelfth career success tied him with former tour winner Dieter Thoma.
Eisenbichler (273.9) still flew from fifth place in the final to the podium. Barely two weeks before the start of the Olympic Games in Beijing, the two best German jumpers showed themselves in impressive form. Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) also convinced with eighth place. Geiger, Eisenbichler and Leyhe had already been nominated for the Olympics.
In the fight for the last two Beijing tickets, Constantin Schmid (Oberaudorf) probably booked his Beijing trip with ninth place in the absence of two-time Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger, who tested positive for corona on Friday. Team world champion Severin Freund (Rastbuchl) missed out as 17. the last chance to still meet the standard, for this the 33-year-old would have to have at least 15. have to be.
Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden) missed out as 33. the second round and thus has bad cards. The last starting places are distributed by national coach Stefan Horngacher on Saturday evening among Schmid, Freund, Paschke and Wellinger.
+++21. January 2022+++
Positive Coronatest – Wellinger threatens Olympic exit
Olympic ski jumping champion Andreas Wellinger faces elimination from Beijing Winter Games after positive coronal test. The German Ski Association (DSV) confirmed that the 26-year-old from Ruhpolding tested positive while traveling to the World Cup in Titisee-Neustadt and immediately went into quarantine on Friday.
"What to say? The knee is better again, I had medical clearance and could jump. And then the crappy Coronatest comes in between", said Wellinger, who wanted to fight for one of the remaining Olympic starting places on Saturday after curing problems with his operated knee: "Unfortunately, I cannot do that now, and that is bitter. I’m fine health-wise, I don’t feel a thing, but the CT reading was just over the limit."
Wellinger, who was absent last time in Zakopane, should have been on Friday for qualification. After the jumping on Saturday (16.3 p.m./ARD and Eurosport), national coach Stefan Horngacher wants to allocate his last two Beijing spots, for which Wellinger, Severin Freund, Pius Paschke and Constantin Schmid came into question. Already seeded are Karl Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler and Stephan Leyhe.World champion Zyla infected with Corona shortly before Olympics
+++ 16. January +++
World champion Zyla infected with Corona shortly before the Olympics
The Polish ski jumping world champion Piotr Zyla tested positive for the coronavirus two weeks before the Beijing Winter Olympics. This was announced by Poland’s federation immediately before the World Cup weekend in Titisee-Neustadt. The 35-year-old Zyla, who in February 2021 had completely surprisingly won the World Cup individual in Oberstdorf, is thus the next case in the Polish team, after the former Four Hills Tournament winner Dawid Kubacki had also been hit recently.
To be allowed to enter China, Zyla and Kubacki must pass a total of four negative PCR tests after recovery. There are currently other cases in the World Cup. Daniel-Andre Tande and Fredrik Villumstad from the Norwegian team tested positive for the virus. On Thursday, Johann Andre Forfang had also received a positive test, as head coach Alexander Stockl confirmed. There have been cases in the German team this winter, but they did not happen in the jumping team. Before Christmas, two caregivers were affected.
+++ 16. January +++
Geiger flies to second place in Zakopane
Ski jumper Karl Geiger flew to his seventh podium finish of the Olympic winter at the World Cup in Zakopane. The 28-year-old from Oberstdorf had to admit defeat in front of 9000 spectators in Poland as second only to the Norwegian Marius Lindvik. Barely three weeks before the start of the winter games the ski flying world champion showed again a strong rising form.
Geiger, who had already led the German team to second place on Saturday, finished with jumps of 134.5 and 135.5 m on 284.6 points and was the equivalent of about five and a half meters behind Lindvik (294.6/135.0+139.5).
Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek came in third ahead of Four Hills Tournament winner Ryoyu Kobayashi. In the overall World Cup Geiger with 897 points reduced the gap to the Japanese (941). Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf) advanced from 16th to tenth place with a strong second jump. Team World Champion Severin Freund (Rastbuchl), on the other hand, fell back from 14th to 20th place.
Most recently, the German ski jumpers had not convinced at the World Cup in Bischofshofen, Geiger had finished eighth in the individual, the DSV team finished sixth. However, the exertions of the Four Hills Tournament, which had ended shortly before, had been clearly noticeable for Team Germany.
Behind the top jumpers, the German eagles continue to have problems. With Stephan Leyhe (Willingen/31.), youngster Constantin Schmid (Oberaudorf/37.) and the still weak veteran Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden/46.), half of the DSV quartet that started was eliminated in the first round. Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding) had left on Saturday due to knee pain.
+++ 14. January +++
DSV eagles fly to second place in Zakopane
Markus Eisenbichler became euphoric, Karl Geiger grinned contentedly into the camera: One week after the temporary low of Bischofshofen, Germany’s ski jumpers have shown an upward form curve again and achieved a second place in the team competition in Zakopane. With the line-up of Severin Freund, Stephan Leyhe, Eisenbichler and Geiger, the team of national coach Stefan Horngacher was only beaten by the superior Slovenians on Saturday. Japan, Austria and Norway ended up behind the German quartet this time.
"That was already cool today. We know that we are a good team. We are happy that we finished second," Eisenbichler, who flew 141.5 meters in the second round, said on ZDF. Guarantor for the second rank of the day was Geiger, who took some points from Four-Hills-Tournament winner Ryoyu Kobayashi with the last jump, so that the DSV-quartet passed Japan. "The boys jumped quite well. Today we were clearly improved", commented Horngacher. A week ago the team had a tough loss with sixth place in Pongau.
"Karl made a real hit again, that helped us a lot," Horngacher now found. Barely three weeks before the start of the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing (4. to 20. February) was the podium place also mentally important. "The second place helps us extremely. Karl has found the thread again about how to jump away from the table. The others can keep up with the top jumpers in the slipstream," said Horngacher.
"It was a very good team performance," was also the opinion of top man Geiger, who was "honestly happy". For the athletes behind Geiger and Eisenbichler, it should be a tough time in the individual on Sunday (16.00 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport) will also be competing for the coveted Beijing tickets. Three places are available for Leyhe, Freund, Pius Paschke, Constantin Schmid and Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger.
Whether it is physically enough for Wellinger, however, remains to be seen. The 26-year-old Bavarian left Poland early after feeling a twinge in his knee. "As a precautionary measure, he will not compete this weekend," tweeted the German Ski Federation (DSV). Wellinger had torn his cruciate ligament in 2019 and has struggled massively to make the sporting connection since then. At the 2018 Olympics, he won gold from the normal hill.
+++ 14. January +++
Kubacki fears for Olympics after positive Corona test
About three weeks before the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the worries of the Polish ski jumpers are getting bigger and bigger. After Olympic champion Kamil Stoch’s ankle injury, former Four Hills Tour winner Dawid Kubacki now faces additional complications. The 31-year-old tested positive for the corona virus before the home meet in Zakopane and will definitely miss the competitions in his home country.
Kubacki – like his colleague Pawel Wasek, who also tested positive – still has plenty of time before the Olympics start on 4. February, but will have to present additional negative tests before leaving for Beijing in order to be allowed to enter China. In sporting terms, the Poles have played a subordinate role so far this winter. Stoch is currently ranked 16th overall in the World Cup, Kubacki is even only on the 36th place. Place.
+++ 14. January +++
Stoch fears for Olympic Games
The 34-year-old Pole will certainly miss this weekend’s home race in Zakopane, Poland, due to an ankle injury. "I was warming up and was inattentive for a second. I don’t even know how to describe it, and then came the pain. The ankle is swollen and discolored. The consultation of doctors, treatments and diagnosis took several hours," Stoch wrote on social networks.
He reported a torn capsule. Even before the injury in training, the Pole, who won Olympic gold twice in 2014 and another Olympic victory in 2018, was going through a difficult phase. At the Four Hills Tournament, he had no chance as defending champion and therefore dropped out prematurely.
+++++9. January 2022+++++
German team only in sixth place after Geiger fall
Karl Geiger was lying on the ground after his fall with the snow hanging in his face. At the end of a very disappointing ski jumping weekend, Germany’s best flyer thus offered the ideal allegory. While the proteges of national coach Stefan Horngacher started two weeks ago with big dreams and goals, they now leave Bischofshofen shaken and disappointed: the missed podium finishes at the Four Hills Tournament were followed by a weekend to forget. Geiger fell, Severin Freund crashed, Markus Eisenbichler was disqualified, and the team didn’t finish higher than sixth on Sunday.
"At some point, the air is also out. One or two things were okay, but it just didn’t go well for us this weekend," said head coach Horngacher on ARD television just four weeks before the start of the Beijing Olympics. In Pongau, hosts Austria won the final team competition ahead of Japan and Norway. Germany had no chance and not only because of Geiger’s fall. In the end, he missed 82.4 points, the equivalent of more than 45 meters. "We will try to catch up as soon as possible," Horngacher announced.
Germany’s last Tour winner Sven Hannawald said on Sunday about the violinist, who was still outstanding in November: "The actual state is that he is tired from the head. You see, this is a used charisma, which he can not conjure away."Geiger had admitted several times in recent days how much the great pressure around the tour had gotten to him. The 28-year-old from Allgau had started the event as the top favorite, but had already squandered all chances in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
And things didn’t go well at the weekend either, as other nations seemed to have coped better with the energy-sapping traditional event. On Saturday, tour runner-up Marius Lindvik from Norway prevailed over compatriot Halvor Egner Granerud and Austrian Jan Horl. Tour winner Ryoyu Kobayashi from Japan finished fourth.
Geiger in eighth and Andreas Wellinger in 19th place were clearly behind. With a view to Beijing (4. to 20. February), the Horngacher team not only lacks Geiger’s initial dominance, but also the team unity. This annoys the participants. "I’ve really had enough now, no shit. I’m a bit fed up right now," said Eisenbichler.
Team World Champion Freund had already been hit in the individual competition after a jump to 128 meters. "I felt I was already standing in the telemark, the next moment I was lying down," described Freund, whom the fall also cost a participation in the second round of the competition. Freund could not name the reason for the fall. "It’s stupid."
Physically, the 2014 Olympic champion is doing well. "Everything should fit. I hope that not any bruises appear. So far nothing that I would notice now," said Freund. The Bavarian only joined the German World Cup team for the Tournament and is fighting for an Olympic spot. Only Geiger and Eisenbichler are seeded.
German eagles disappoint in Bischofshofen
Karl Geiger smiled pained, Markus Eisenbichler waved off annoyed: The German ski jumpers have delivered their weakest performance in the Olympic winter so far two days after the end of the Four-Hills-Tournament. In the first victory of the season of the Norwegian Marius Lindvik, Geiger was still the best DSV eagle in Bischofshofen as eighth, Eisenbichler was even disqualified.
"That was a difficult competition with a strong tail wind. The grenade was not there, but all in all it was okay", Geiger said after his second weakest result of the season. After the first round, the ski flying world champion was still in ninth place before he at least made up one more place.
Eisenbichler was even disqualified after his second jump because of a non-compliant move, by then he had long lost sight of the top ten. "I think the guys are flat. I assume that fatigue and mental freshness played a role. But clearly, all jumpers had the same load", said ARD expert Sven Hannawald.
Lindvik claimed the fourth victory of his career ahead of compatriot Halvor Egner Granerud and Jan Horl (Austria). Japanese Tour winner Ryoyu Kobayashi finished fourth, but extended his overall World Cup lead over Geiger (817) with now 891 points.
As the second best DSV eagle Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding) followed only on the 19th place. Place. "The squirrel feeds with difficulty. I’m on the right track, there is always food lying around", said the Olympic champion in the ARD. Wellinger thus also recommended himself for a mission in the team competition on Sunday – it would be his first since February 2019.
At least Stephan Leyhe (Willingen/22) made it into the points.), Constantin Schmid (Oberaudorf/23.) and Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden/28.).
Severin Freund (Rastbuchl) crashed shortly after landing after a good jump to 128.0 m and missed the second round. "No idea why I fell over there. But everything should fit physically. I hope that not any bruises appear", Said the former world champion, who had to cope with two cruciate ligament tears in his career at once.
On Sunday (16.00 o’clock/ARD and Eurosport) the second team jumping of the season is on the Paul-Auberleitner-Schanze. After their performance on Saturday, the DSV quartet is not likely to start as favorites. At the beginning of December it had been enough in Wisla, Poland, to rank second behind Austria.
+++ 7. January +++
Kasai misses his ninth games
For ski jumping veteran Noriaki Kasai the dream of his ninth Olympic participation is finally over. As expected, the 49-year-old was not selected by the Japanese Ski Federation for the Beijing Games (4. to 20. February) nominated.
Tour triumphant Ryoyu Kobayashi, his brother Junshiro Kobayashi as well as Yukiya Sato, Naoki Nakamura and Daiki Ito will compete in China instead. The last individual gold for Japan had been won by Kazuyoshi Funaki in 1998.
Kasai holds record for Winter Games with eight participations. In Beijing, he will now be caught up by five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein (49), who already has her Olympic ticket secured.
Kasai is still jumping, but the last time he competed in the World Cup was in February 2020. Still in 2017, the 1992 ski flying world champion had surprisingly made it to the podium in Planica. If it doesn’t work out with the Olympics in 2022 "then just four years later", Kasai had last said.
+++ 6. January +++
Tour winner Kobayashi misses Grand Slam – Geiger in third place at the end of the season
Japan’s overall winner Ryoyu Kobayashi missed out on the much longed-for quadruple victory at the Four Hills Tournament. The 25-year-old jumped after three victories on Thursday in Bischofshofen only on fifth place (133.5 and 133.5 meters) and thus failed to achieve the historic second quadruple victory, which no one before him has ever managed before. Instead, the 70th place was won at the end. In the second edition of the traditional event, Austria’s Daniel Huber finished ahead of Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud and Germany’s Karl Geiger, who relinquished his half-time lead after 140.5 and 132 meters. At least in the first jump he had proven his strong form from before Christmas.
But the big attention belonged to Kobayashi, who was on 20. Anniversary of Sven Hannawald’s historic first quadruple victory did not manage a repeat from the winter of 2018/19, when he in turn won at all four stations. "I am happy to have won the golden eagle. I’m totally happy," Kobayashi said, adding, "I’m a bit exhausted. I am happiest about the fact that I was able to show stable jumps the whole time."
The Japanese will now receive 100,000 Swiss francs (about 96,000 euros), the winner’s prize money had been quintupled before this winter. In the overall tour ranking the Japanese overtook everybody anyway, but behind him it became really exciting. Marius Lindvik finished second, Granerud was third. For Geiger it was only enough for fourth place.
Because of the wind-related cancellation in Innsbruck, it was the second Bischofshofen jumping within two days. And it became a spectacular show with very wide flights. Germany’s Markus Eisenbichler (133 and 134 meters) finished eighth after a strong qualifying attempt, falling behind Geiger in the overall ranking. He finished fifth.
In the tightly packed calendar, in which PCR tests for the upcoming World Cup weekend in Bischofshofen were necessary even between qualification and competition on Thursday, Kobayashi allowed himself virtually no mistakes. As three years ago, he had only a narrow lead in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but it was enough for him to win three days – and clearly in the overall standings. However, it was not enough for an "unbelievably terrific performance from a sporting point of view" (Severin Freund) of another quadruple series. "I really attacked," said Kobayashi. "I am happy that I won the golden eagle."
For the opponents his run does not come as a surprise. It was to some extent explainable, because rules like wind and run-up points provide for more justice, Freund explained. Kobayashi was at a loss for words during the whole tour, his answers were short and meaningless. Asked if he was annoyed by the daily detailed interview procedure, Kobayashi only replied: "It’s cold"." Sporting the stoic Japanese became an unmanageable challenge. "He can only beat himself," Eisenbichler classified. On Thursday it came differently.
Geiger and Eisenbichler lacked the top performances and above all the consistency of before Christmas. "The goal was another placement. She’s through," a severely disappointed Geiger admitted after the first part of the Bischofshofen double. "Eisei" stated, "You learn a lot more from small defeats than if you always win."Geiger also gave up the overall leader’s yellow jersey to Kobayashi, who will also compete in this form at the Olympics in China (4. to 20. February) will be top favorite.
Meanwhile, the German eagles must at least a 21. Year since Hannawald triumph waiting for the golden eagle. The jubilarian spent Epiphany Day as an ARD expert. "The memories are like it was last month," noted the 47-year-old. The celebrations for 20 years of quadruple victory were all cancelled due to Corona. Hannawald is not bothered by this. "We’ll get that for the 25. anniversary after", he said. Until then, Eisenbichler, Geiger& Co. some more chances. "Next year will be another ‘tour,’" Eisenbichler said.
Innsbruck gets floodlights
The ski jumpers’ Four Hills Tournament could become an evening event entirely in the coming years. After Garmisch-Partenkirchen was able to use the floodlight system, which cost around 2.25 million euros, for the first time at a tour event on New Year’s Day, Innsbruck is also to receive the long-discussed artificial lighting as soon as possible.
"The official procedures are still underway. If everything goes as planned, a jumping event with floodlights can take place for the first time in 2023 or 2024", Innsbruck’s OC boss Alfons Schranz is quoted in the Kronen newspaper.
An escape lighting system has been planned at the Bergisel for many years, but so far the project has mostly failed due to protests from residents. Because the 1976 Olympic hill is very susceptible to the foehn wind, the organizers are regularly under time pressure in the event of delays in order to stage the jumping in acceptable light conditions.
In the current tour, the four jumps were and will be started at their usual start times: In Oberstdorf (16.30 hrs) and Bischofshofen (17 hrs).30) later in the afternoon, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (14) and Innsbruck (13.30) to the earlier afternoon time. Organizers expect higher TV ratings from jumping in the evening.
+++ 4. January +++
Here’s what happens next at the Tour after the cancellation of Innsbruck
Two competitions and two qualifiers will be held in Bischofshofen during the Four Hills Tournament of the ski jumpers. The organizers informed about this after the cancellation in Innsbruck due to the wind on Tuesday. According to this, the Bergisel jumping competition will be held on Wednesday in Pongau. Scheduled is a qualification at noon (13.00 h) and later in the day the competition (16.30 pm). The preliminaries from Innsbruck will thus be cancelled.
On Thursday, the previous start time for the final (17.30 h). The qualification will take place in the afternoon (14.30 hrs) will be held. In Innsbruck a competition was impossible because of a foehn storm. It is only the second time in the long history of the event that a jumping event is canceled at one location and made up the next day at another location. The first time this happened was in 2008, when Innsbruck was also affected – also then a competition was moved to Bischofshofen.
Wind too strong – jumping in Innsbruck cancelled
The third ski jumping competition of the Four Hills Tournament has been canceled for Tuesday due to strong winds at the Bergisel jump in Innsbruck and is to be made up on Wednesday in Bischofshofen. This decision was made by the FIS on Tuesday, after the start had been postponed several times. The ski jump in Tyrol is known for its susceptibility to wind. Before that, the event that was actually scheduled for 13.30 o’clock planned start has been postponed several times. The trial run also had to be canceled without substitution. Meanwhile, there had been no problems in the qualification on Monday.
It is only the second jumping event in the 70-year history of the tour that was completely canceled on the scheduled day and moved to another location. For the first time this happened on 4. January 2008, when Innsbruck was also affected by a foehn storm. At that time on 5. 6. January two competitions held in Bischofshofen. At the facility in Pongau, the organizers can act more flexibly due to the existing floodlight and because of fewer wind problems.
"There was a phase when the wind calmed down a lot. We would have had a good chance. But now it is again incredible. That’s how our sport is," said race director Sandro Pertile of the world federation Fis after the cancellation, which he announced at 15.00 o’clock had announced.
+++++3. January 2022+++++
Defending champion Stoch drops out early
Defending champion Kamil Stoch from Poland has dropped out of the Four Hills Tournament of ski jumpers prematurely. About it informed the Polish federation on Monday evening via Twitter. The 34-year-old Stoch, who had dominated the traditional event last year, had finished 59th in the qualification for the third jumping event in Innsbruck and thus missed the final of the best 50 athletes on Tuesday (13.30 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport). Already in Oberstdorf (41.) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (47.) Stoch had no chance before and remained without World Cup points.
The three-time Olympic champion is now expected to return to Poland and will therefore not only miss the last Tour stop in Bischofshofen, but also the following World Cup weekend, which will also be held in Bischofshofen. The Poles generally have big problems this winter. In the overall World Cup Stoch occupies the 13th place. Rank and is still the best of his team. Piotr Zyla (27.) and Dawid Kubacki (37.) are even further behind.
These are the duels of the Germans in Innsbruck
Seven German ski jumpers have qualified for the third jumping of the 70. Four Hills Tournament on Tuesday (13.30 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport) in Innsbruck. In the 25 K.o.-duels of the first round, in which the winners and the five best losers qualify for the second round, there will be exciting pairings with German participation.
Kobayashi not to be beaten in qualifying either
The German ski jumpers Karl Geiger and Markus Eisenbichler have mastered the qualification at the Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck, but have not jumped in the very front. Geiger flew to 119.5 meters on Monday to finish tenth, and New Year’s runner-up Eisenbichler was also solid at the famed Bergisel, jumping 119 meters and finishing eighth. "The day was not so wrong. The qualifying jump could have been better, but all in all it was okay," said Geiger.
The victory in the qualifying was secured by the Japanese overall leader Ryoyu Kobayashi, who jumped 126.5 meters. On Tuesday (13.30 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport), the third of four tour jumping events is on the program in Innsbruck.
Eisenbichler had previously made a dream jump, flying 139 meters. "Markus had a first-cream jump in training. I think it was a nice day for him", said national coach Stefan Horngacher. However, the attempt does not count as a hill record because it was not an official competition jump.
In addition to Geiger and Eisenbichler, all five other athletes qualified for the Bergisel jumping competition. Severin Freund was the best German in sixth place and also benefited from the intensive summer training in Tyrol. "With me it has helped in any case. It’s a hill of its own, so it can help to come up with a concept in the summer," Freund commented on ZDF. Also Stephan Leyhe (24.), Constantin Schmid (25.), Andreas Wellinger (44.) and Pius Paschke (50.) are participating.
Kobayashi gets new trophy
Japan’s high-flyer Ryoyu Kobayashi gets his destroyed trophy from the New Year’s jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen replaced. There was a replacement trophy for the 25-year-old on Monday after the qualification in Innsbruck, after the trophy had fallen in half during the handover on Saturday. This was announced by the tour organizers. "The glue didn’t hold properly," Tour spokesman Ingo Jensen had to say about the mishap on the 1. January explained on request. Kobayashi not only won the New Year’s jump but also the opening competition in Oberstdorf.
Eisenbichler is "extremely indifferent to the overall classification"
Markus Eisenbichler is not concerned with a possible attack on the podium or even the overall victory despite his strong performance at the New Year’s jumping of the Four Hills Tournament. "I’m only looking at myself at the moment. I am extremely indifferent to the overall ranking at the moment", said the 30-year-old on Sunday morning.
After his second place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Eisenbichler is already fourth overall, which was news for him the day after the jumping event. "Where I am exactly, I am just finding out for the first time. Thanks for that", said the six-time world champion in response to a corresponding question.
In his approach for the third jumping on Tuesday (13.30 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport) in Innsbruck, where he had become world champion in 2019, nothing changes for Eisenbichler. "I look from jump to jump, because with me at the moment everything is work and not a foregone conclusion", he said.
In the overall ranking Eisenbichler is the best German at the tour’s half-time, just twelve meters behind the leading Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi. Third-placed Slovenian Lovro Kos has a lead of just under two meters.
+++++2. January 2022+++++
"It sucks" – Geiger ticks off tour dream
While Markus Eisenbichler after his dream start into the new year somewhat surprisingly carries the German hopes to Austria, for Karl Geiger the attack on the long-awaited victory in the Four Hills Tournament after a New Year’s jumping "sucks" almost finished. The DSV eagles want to strike back at the legendary Bergisel in Innsbruck on Tuesday in the fight against the sheerly overpowering Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi in order to make the tour miracle a reality after all.
On New Year’s Day, Geiger was happy to be with his buddy "Eisei", but he was not able to be there about his "super cool" second place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a hair’s breadth behind Kobayashi and ahead of the surprise third-placed Lovro Kos from Slovenia. But the Oberstdorfer’s own disappointment after two mediocre jumps in the new year and seventh place was deep-seated: "I’m just pissed off."
There are "several things that this happens again at the Tournament, it sucks", spoke the Geiger, who was pursued by the wind pitch, unusually clear words. It is "bitter when you get such a beating".
His dream of the first German Tournament victory since Sven Hannawald 20 years ago? Buried. Geiger has little hope before the third tour stop. "If everything runs normally, it is no longer manageable for me", he said: "There has to be a wild competition."
Geiger is exactly 32.2 points – the equivalent of 18 meters – behind the outstanding Ryoyu Kobayashi in sixth place overall. "That is normally a thing of the impossibility", said Horngacher, but perhaps there is still "compensatory justice".
The situation seems hopeless, too good, too error-free jumps currently the Japanese. Kobayashi also took over the yellow jersey from Geiger with his third World Cup victory in a row, and the 25-year-old is the first ski jumper ever to reach for his second Grand Slam at the Tour after 2018/19.
The best starting position from a German perspective at the halay point is Eisenbichler, who has regained his strength. On the Olympic hill at the Gudiberg, the Bavarian missed not only the hill record by 50 centimeters with two dream flights to 141.0 and 143.5 m, but also the first German New Year’s victory in 20 years by 0.2 points or about eleven centimeters.
But that did not bother Eisenbichler at all. The result is "totally cool, he had won the second place and was "very, very satisfied", especially with the "jumping around. In the overall ranking, the six-time World Champion climbed to fourth place, the gap to Kobayashi: 21.1 points, the equivalent of almost twelve meters. In between are Norway’s Marius Lindvik (-13.2) and Slovenian up-and-comer Lovro Kos (-17.7).
Eisenbichler doesn’t give a damn about the overall standings, as he emphasized that he is "really not interested at all". National coach Stefan Horngacher remained optimistic before the jumping on the Schicksalsberg in Innsbruck. "We are not giving up", the Austrian said: "I am very satisfied with the current situation." The tour is "not over yet" And only finished in Bischofshofen.
Anyone can still challenge Kobayashi, said Horngacher, the further course of the tour depends on "how stable he continues to jump". On the wind-prone hill in Innsbruck, many tour dreams have been shattered in the past, very often also those of the German team. Last year, for example, Geiger was hit by the same fate and only finished in 16th place after a botched first round.
Before the trip to Austria on Sunday morning, Eisenbichler had a consoling talk with his long-time room-mate. "He is fine again. He doesn’t let it get him down", he said about Geiger.
+++++1. January 2022+++++
Kobayashi wins by a razor-thin margin ahead of Eisenbichler – Geiger loses ground
The resurgent Markus Eisenbichler has made a furious comeback with a podium finish, but the German Four-Hills Tour dreams seem to end once again Japan’s high-flyer Ryoyu Kobayashi. 20 years after Sven Hannawald’s last victory so far, the longed-for ski jumping triumph on New Year’s Day came to nothing again because of 0.2 points – the equivalent of just over eleven centimeters. The same fate threatens also in the overall ranking.
The 25-year-old Kobayashi secured the next victory at the New Year’s Jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen after attempts at 143 and 135.5 meters ahead of Eisenbichler and thus also moved ahead in the overall ranking of the traditional event on Saturday. A piece of ski jumping history is possible for Kobayashi at the Tournament: He could be the first athlete to win all four jumps of a Tournament twice. He had already managed to do this in 2018/19.
"Kobayashi is in excellent shape. He is not making any mistakes at the moment", praised Norway’s coach Alexander Stockl on ZDF. While "Eisei" had a top start into the year 2022 with second place, Karl Geiger experienced a disappointment at the 100th anniversary of the New Year’s Jumping.
After jumps to 130 and 127.5 meters, the 28-year-old from Oberstdorf finished seventh in spring-like weather and up to ten degrees and thus lost the yellow jersey for the first time this winter. He waved disappointedly in the run-out. "If I have seen this correctly: Unfortunately bad conditions again. This is the tour", Severin Freund commented on the wind misfortune of his colleague.
"It was quite a difficult situation," national coach Stefan Horngacher described the first attempt, which briefly had a strong tailwind. Geiger and Eisenbichler are likely to fight for daily victories again at the remaining two stations in Austria. However, it will be very difficult to win the overall title if Kobayashi, who missed a few jumps due to a Corona break, continues to show such consistent performances. Third of the day was Slovenian Lovro Kos (135.5 and 138 meters).
Horngacher was pleased with the strong return of Eisenbichler. "Markus slowly gets going. He really shows great jumps," praised the Tyrolean. Especially the second attempt at 143.5 meters was great class. A botched landing cost the 30-year-old the victory in the end. There probably wouldn’t have been a big party like Hannawald’s this time, even with a longed-for home victory. This time, only a few people were able to watch, sitting on the terrace of a restaurant at the same time and enjoying the best view.
Also behind the two top athletes Geiger and Eisenbichler, the German team managed a decent team result for the anniversary. A total of six athletes made it to the second round, Stephan Leyhe presented himself particularly strong, who was the third-best German in tenth place, as he was at the start. Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger scored the first points in this tour, he made it to 22nd place.
Already halay through the traditional event, favorites for the golden eagle and 100,000 Swiss francs (about 97,000 euros) winner’s prize money have said goodbye. Defending champion Kamil Stoch from Poland missed the second round in Oberstdorf and also this time, Austria’s co-favorite Stefan Kraft even missed the qualification on New Year’s Eve. He now wants to get in the mood for the rest of the tour on cross-country skis. On New Year’s Day, Norway’s Halvor Egner Granerud, who was still second in Oberstdorf, also lost a lot of ground. Despite a strong second attempt he did not get beyond eighth place.
After the second and last rest day on Sunday, it’s time for Geiger, Eisenbichler and Co. to Austria. At the notorious Bergisel in Innsbruck, German tour dreams were often ended in the recent past. But head coach Horngacher put special focus on the difficult hill in Tyrol last summer. On Tuesday (14.00 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport) is the groundbreaking third jump, the day before there is already the qualification in the world championship stadium of 2019.
+++++1. January+++++
These are the K.o.-Duels of the German ski jumpers at the New Year’s jumping competition
With a very good performance ski jumper Karl Geiger qualified as expected sovereign for the New Year’s jumping of the Four Hills Tournament. The 28-year-old jumped 135.5 meters in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on Friday and finished third in the qualifier. Teammate Markus Eisenbichler got one and a half meters further and won.
Geiger is the biggest German hope for the first overall victory in the tour since Sven Hannawald’s triumph 20 years ago. After his fifth place at the opening event in Oberstdorf he is about 3.40 meters behind the leading Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi, who was second in the qualification.
In addition to Geiger and Eisenbichler, seven other German jumpers will be competing in the traditional competition this Saturday starting at 14.00 hrs (ZDF and Eurosport). In the 25 K.o.-Duels of the first round, in which the winners and the five best losers qualify for the second round, will result in the following pairings with German participation (in parentheses the position in the qualification):
- Junshiro Kobayashi (50./Japan) – Markus Eisenbichler (1./Siegsdorf)
- Roman Trofimov (48./Russia) – Karl Geiger (3./Oberstdorf)
- Andreas Wellinger (47./Ruhpolding) – Jan Horl (4./Austria)
- Felix Hoffmann (46./Goldlauter) – Piotr Zyla (5./Poland)
- Peter Prevc (42./Slovenia) – Stephan Leyhe (9./Willingen)
- Justin Lisso (40./Schmiedefeld) – Daniel Andre Tande (11./Norway)
- Timi Zajc (34./Slovenia) – Severin Freund (17./Rastbuchl)
- Ulrich Wohlgenannt (31./Austria) – Constantin Schmid (20./Oberaudorf)
- Pius Paschke (29./Kiefersfelden) – Lovro Kos (22./Slovenia) .
+++++1. January+++++
Turkish ski jumping role model "happy and proud" before big tour
Fatih Arda Ipcioglu was again one of the most sought-after ski jumpers in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. While top athletes such as Kamil Stoch or Stefan Kraft scurried quickly through the interview zone, the 24-year-old Turk patiently answered all questions on New Year’s Day. Ipcioglu was the first Turkish jumper to score World Cup points in Oberstdorf and thus wrote a piece of ski jumping history.
"It is very important that we managed to do this for the first time. The first World Cup points make me happy and proud. We have done the first job and now look forward to more," said the Turkish ski jump pioneer to the German Press Agency. Despite the missed qualification for the New Year’s Jumping, many other highlights are coming up this winter. First the tour competitions in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen, later also the Olympic Games in Beijing (4. to 20. February).
"We can do winter sports in Turkey. We have made a good improvement, the future is waiting for us," said Ipcioglu. In winter he trains on his home hill in Erzurum, in summer he moves out, mostly to Slovenia. "I am a role model for other jumpers in Turkey," described the man who four years ago became the first Turkish ski jumper to make his debut at the Tournament. He had received a lot of messages. "It’s a big issue in Turkey when you fly through the air on skis."
+++++31. December+++++
Katharina Althaus jumps to fifth place at New Year’s tournament in Ljubno
Ski jumper Katharina Althaus flew past the podium at the end of the year. In Ljubno, Slovenia, the Olympic silver medalist from Oberstdorf had to be content with fifth place. After a good first jump to 91.0 m, the 25-year-old only managed 84.5 m in the final, with 246.2 points she was the equivalent of five and a half meters short of third place.
Overall World Cup winner Nika Kriznar (263.7/91.5+94.5) ensured a Slovenian home victory and broke the winning streak of Austria’s Marita Kramer (259.9) who was leading after the first run. Third place went to Kriznar’s compatriot Ema Klimec (257.2). Kramer, who had recently won four times in a row, continues to lead the overall World Cup unchallenged ahead of Althaus.
For the first time, in the first round of women’s K.o.-Mode has been applied, as it is known from the men’s Four Hills Tournament.
The other German jumpers were far behind. Pauline Hebler (Lauscha/24.), Juliane Seyfarth (Ruhla/25.) and Anna Rupprecht (Degenfeld/27.) got into the points after all. Sochi Olympic champion Carina Vogt (Degenfeld) missed as 48. the second round clearly and thus remains without World Cup points in the current season. On New Year’s Day (16.00 o’clock) another individual jumping is scheduled in Ljubno.
The ski jumpers have so far been unsuccessful in their efforts to stage their own four-hills tour around the turn of the year, or even to be integrated into the men’s tour. The fact that for the first time there will be a New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day jumping is rather a consolation. "I’m a little bit ambivalent because it’s not a tour for us again", Althaus had said.
+++ 28. December +++
Kobayashi wins opening jump – Geiger within striking distance
Karl Geiger cursed briefly, slumped his shoulders, but then Germany’s best ski jumper clapped his hands with his teammates in a fighting mood: In a gripping opening competition of the 70. Geiger flew past the podium in the Four Hills Tournament in pouring rain in his home town of Oberstdorf, but he managed a good starting position with fifth place in the victory of Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi. The dream of the first German overall victory in the ski jumping spectacle since Sven Hannawald 20 years ago thus lives on.
"At first I was a bit disappointed. But it is alright overall", said Geiger after a hard fight in front of again empty ranks due to the Corona pandemic in 27.000-Spectator Arena: "The excitement was greater than expected. The jumps were good, but not as good as I can make them."
After the first run, last year’s winner from Schattenberg was still in third place. "That was the first of four jumps, there is still everything in it", said national coach Stefan Horngacher.
Kobayashi, 2018/19 tour winner, stormed from fifth to his 23rd with a dream flight to 141.0m in the second round. World Cup victory, he prevailed with 302.0 points ahead of Norwegians Halvor Egner Granerud (299.2) and Robert Johansson (298.6).
Geiger jumped 131.5 and 131.0 m (295.9 points). With the equivalent of just under three and a half meters behind Kobayashi, he is within striking distance ahead of the New Year’s jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. "The starting position is still good", said Geiger.
However, it is already apparent after the first tour stop that Geiger will become the German sole entertainer in the fight for an absolute top position. In addition to the number one, only three other DSV eagles made it to the second round in Oberstdorf – seven German jumpers had competed in the qualification on Tuesday.
Six-time World Champion Markus Eisenbichler jumped to seventh place in the competition with a strong second run, but is already more than 20 points behind Kobayashi. "The second jump makes me positive, it goes in the right direction", said Eisenbichler. Stephan Leyhe finished ninth, Pius Paschke came in 26th place.
A very bitter comeback in the World Cup experienced team world champion Severin Freund. The veteran, who had earned his tour ticket via the Continental Cup, showed a strong 124.5 m in the first round and was in ninth place, but was disqualified because of an irregular move. "It’s a great pity, because the jump was really worth something", said the 33-year-old, who triumphed at Schattenberg in 2015.
+++ 28. December +++
The duels of the Germans in Oberstdorf
At the 70. Four Hills Tournament the ski jumpers fight since 29. December again for the coveted golden eagle. Who will take the overall victory in 2021/22? Karl Geiger is one of the top favorites and Germany’s hope for the first tour title in 20 years. But in Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi and the strong Norwegians he has top-class competition. In our ticker we keep you informed about the first jumping in Oberstdorf (from 16.30 o’clock) up to date.
These are the C.-o.-Duels of the Germans for Karl Geiger
Six German ski jumpers have qualified for the opening jump of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf. Only Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger missed the qualification as 51. very close. On Wednesday (16.30 hrs/ARD and Eurosport) the German athletes will compete as usual in K.o.-Duels in. Who jumps against whom? An overview:
Karl Geiger (2/Oberstdorf) – Viktor Polasek (49/Czech Republic)
Markus Eisenbichler (6/Siegsdorf) – Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (45/Canada)
Severin Freund (9/Rastbuchl) – Roman Trofimow (42/Russia)
Pius Paschke (17/Kiefersfelden) – Philipp Aschenwald (34/Austria)
Constantin Schmid (20/Oberaudorf) – Yukiya Sato (31/Japan)
Stephan Leyhe (38/Willingen) – Jakub Wolny (13/Poland)
Friday missing from the national group
Former ski jumping world champion Richard Freitag (Aue) is also missing from the extended German line-up for the second competition of the Four Hills Tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The 30-year-old Saxon did not make it into the six-man National Group, which will compete in addition to the seven German World Cup jumpers around Karl Geiger.
Freitag, still team world champion in 2019 and winner of eight World Cup competitions in his career, has been searching for his form for a long time and most recently only competed in the third-class FIS Cup. In the previous season, he made his last appearance in the World Cup at the New Year’s Jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen via the national group. In the 2017/18 season, Freitag had come to the tour as the World Cup leader and favorite, but had to give up after a fall in Innsbruck.
For the qualification in Garmisch-Partenkirchen on New Year’s Eve, the German Ski Association (DSV) appointed former junior world champion David Siegel (Baiersbronn), who is fighting to catch up after protracted injury problems, as well as Martin Hammann (Aue), Philipp Raimund (Oberstdorf), Justin Lisso (Schmiedefeld), Kilian Markl (Partenkirchen) and Felix Hoffmann (Goldlauter) to the National Group.
At the following jumps in Austria the German line-up will be reduced to seven jumpers again. In recent years, the National Group, which can be used in two jumps per season, has always competed in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. This time the DSV is saving a mission for the other World Cups in Titisee-Neustadt, Willingen and Oberstdorf (ski flying).
+++++28. December+++++
Geiger second in qualifying – Wellinger out
Germany’s big Four-Hills-Tournament-hope Karl Geiger finished second in the first qualification in Oberstdorf. The 28-year-old local hero jumped 127.5 meters on Tuesday in heavy rain and extremely difficult wind conditions, beating only Ryoyu Kobayashi of Japan. Things went badly for Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger, who after a jump to 108 meters only managed 51. and at the start of the 70. Edition on Wednesday (16.30 clock/ARD and Eurosport) will not be there. He lacked the equivalent of less than a meter to qualify.
The jumping was marked by the weather. After the first 15 jumpers there was even a break of 30 minutes until the strong wind calmed down again. Markus Eisenbichler (6.), Pius Paschke (17.), Constantin Schmid (20.) and Stephan Leyhe (38.) made the first qualification. Surprisingly strong was returnee Severin Freund, who led for a long time and finished ninth in the end.
Top athletes dominate the qualification
The top athletes now show why they are the last jumpers to go down the hill. Halvor Egner Granerud and Ryoyu Kobayashi clearly outperform the others. And Karl Geiger, as World Cup leader, is also among the best in the qualification and comes in second behind Kobayashi.
Eisenbichler with great jump
A strong jump from the German problem child Markus Eisenbichler. The 132 meters should give him self-confidence again that he can keep up with the world class. Even if it is not enough for the lead because of a bad landing.
Switzerland’s Kilian Peier also backs up his great performance from Engelberg with a long jump.
Meanwhile Andreas Wellinger is safely out of the race.
Schmid and Paschke safely qualified
Constantin Schmid is the next German to make it into the competition with 122.5 meters. No outstanding performance, but a safe jump in these conditions. Pius Paschke is also safe in the first round with 122 meters.
Timi Zajc, Slovenian hope for a tour surprise, however, is eliminated with a very weak jump.
Andreas Wellinger with a weak jump
Andreas Wellinger lands already at 108 meters. So he is only 31 for the time being. This will probably be nothing with the qualification for the competition for the Olympic champion. There are still too many top jumpers for that. Only the top 50 in the qualifying rounds will advance.
Teammate Stephan Leyhe does better. The man from Sauerland reaches 118 meters and will be there tomorrow.
Swiss Ammann still saves failed jump
Simon Ammann still brings a shaky jump down well. The Swiss veteran is in the first jump with 113 meters and 25.6 plus points for the bad wind.
Difficult tailwind conditions for the ski jumpers
At the moment the jumpers are not able to reach real long distances. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that at the moment it is the turn of the weaker jumpers anyway, on the other hand it is due to the tail wind and the relatively slow inrun.
Roman Koudelka from the Czech Republic, who once belonged to the world’s best, does not achieve a good distance either.
It goes on in Oberstdorf. The jury has decided to use the small wind break, which is announced until 6 p.m.
Interruption because of too much upwind
Too much upwind at the Schattenbergschanze. For now it does not go on like this for the ski jumpers. The qualification is interrupted. The inrun track is covered to protect it from the rain. Now it’s time for jumpers and spectators to wait. At 17.3 p.m. the jury will decide how it will go on.
Good jump by Severin Freund
Severin Freund qualified for the Four Hills Tournament via the Continental Cup and secured the seventh starting place for the German team. The former world champion is the first German to take his turn. He shows a solid jump to 126 meters with a lot of tail wind. With this he should make it into the competition on Wednesday.
+++++28. December+++++
Defending champion Kamil Stoch starts the tour with confidence
Defending champion Kamil Stoch starts confidently into the 70th round despite the form crisis in the Polish team. Four Hills Tournament of the ski jumpers. "It’s going to be a pretty tough ten days for everyone", said the 34-year-old before the qualification for the first jump on Tuesday (16.30 o’clock/ARD and Eurosport) in Oberstdorf "but it is always a very special event, and that is why I will also compete with a smile this time."
Stoch, who won the Tournament for the third time last year, finished third in Klingenthal, the only podium finish for the Poles in the current World Cup season. In eleventh place, he is the only Polish jumper among the top 25 in the overall standings. "Each tour is always a white sheet of paper, which is now rewritten again", said Stoch.
His compatriot Dawid Kubacki, Tour winner 2019/20, is only 39th in the overall World Cup and was only once better than 25th place (13. in Nizhny Tagil). "The most important thing is to get back to good jumping. It’s obviously not working out at the moment", Kubacki said: "But everything is going in the right direction, so I believe that I can jump a good tour."
Only twice so far has a country won the Four Hills Tournament three times in a row. Norway was successful three times from 1967 to 1969 by Bjorn Wirkola, Austria won seven times from 2009 to 2015 by six different jumpers. With another overall victory Stoch would become the third athlete with at least four successes. The already deceased Finn Matti Nykanen won five times, the Oberwiesenthaler Jens Weibflog four times.
With seven day victories in the Tournament, Stoch is ranked fifth in the "eternal" Best list. This is led by Wirkola and Weibflog, who each won ten jumps.
+++++27. December+++++
Karl Geiger wants to win the tour – no national group
World-class ski jumper Karl Geiger takes his role as favorite at the Four Hills Tournament in stride. "The pressure has not necessarily been less the last few years either. I feel up to the whole thing, I feel ready. Looking forward to the competitions. What will come out, no one can say in advance," said the 28-year-old Geiger on Monday at the opening press conference in Oberstdorf. There on Wednesday (16.30 hrs/ARD and Eurosport) the first jump to the 70. Tour instead.
Geiger from Allgau comes to his hometown in the yellow jersey of the overall leader. The fact that there hasn’t been a German overall winner at the traditional event since Sven Hannawald in 2002 doesn’t matter to Geiger. "Whether it was 20 years ago or 27 or twelve, it doesn’t really make any difference. The tour starts with the qualifying, then goes the ten days. You have to have your seven things together," Geiger said, adding, "I want to win."
National coach Stefan Horngacher is confident that his ski jumpers will win the first German Tournament in 20 years anyway. "We are hot and want to fight for the victory. You always go to the start to win the thing", said Horngacher before the start of the 70th Tournament. Four Hills Tournament.
His team has this year "very, very good conditions", the Austrian emphasized "we have prepared extremely for the tour in the summer". Geiger, in particular, currently has a very good overall package.
On Tuesday (16.30 hrs), the qualification for the opening jumping event on Wednesday (16.00 hrs) will take place on the Schattenbergschanze in Oberstdorf.30 hrs/both ARD and Eurosport) on the program. Unlike usual, there will be no national group at the tour opener, which is "the highest pressure you can have", said Horngacher.
The "second row Will compete at the New Year’s Jump in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, probably also at the Ski Flying World Cup in Oberstdorf in March. Like last season, all four tour competitions will take place without spectators due to the Corona pandemic.
+++ 23. December +++
Four Hills Tournament without fans
As Austria’s ski federation (oSV) announced on Thursday, due to the coronalage also at the jumps in Innsbruck (4. January) and Bischofshofen (6. January) as well as the respective qualifications no fans allowed.
In the past week, the organizers of the two stations in Austria had still planned with 4000 (Innsbruck) and 3500 spectators (Bischofshofen) and started the ticket sales. The German competitions in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen have already excluded spectators before.
"We regret this decision for the fans and active, but want to support the government in their efforts as best as possible", said oSV President Roswitha Stadlober.
Ski jumping World Cup in Willingen without spectators
The Olympic dress rehearsal of the male and female ski jumpers in Willingen will take place without spectators due to corona conditions. This was announced by the organizers on Thursday. "We had planned right from the summer with the 2G rule and prepared everything perfectly. But because of the new virus variant, unfortunately, this can not be implemented," said ski club president Juergen Hensel. One is very disappointed and hopes that one can admit fans again for the World Cup 2023. The competitions in Willingen will take place from 28. to 30. January instead of. A mixed event on Friday will be followed by men’s and women’s singles on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
+++++23. December 2021+++++
Former tour winner Diethart quits and becomes ski jumping coach
Former Four Hills Tournament winner Thomas Diethart ends his career and will become a ski jumping coach in the future. This was announced by the Austrian Ski Federation (oSV) on Thursday. The 29-year-old Diethart, who had won the 2013/14 tour, returned to the hill only in the summer after a serious fall and about four years of break. Now the former pro will be Harald Rodlauer’s co-trainer with Austria’s women ski jumpers. "For me, my comeback in the summer was important to be able to really finish with ski jumping as an active athlete," said Diethart, who had suffered severe injuries in his fall at the time.
+++++19. December 2021+++++
Geiger flies onto the podium again in Engelberg – Kobayashi wins
World Cup leader Karl Geiger also made it to the podium in the second jump in Engelberg and thus delivered an almost perfect dress rehearsal for the Four Hills Tournament. 24 hours after his victory in the first competition, the ski flying world champion from Oberstdorf only had to admit defeat to Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi on Sunday.
With jumps of 135.0 and 131.5 m (293.8 points), Geiger was just seven meters behind Kobayashi (306.0/132.5+136.5), who confidently won his 22nd World Cup. Career victory and the third this winter celebrated. Third place went to the Norwegian Marius Lindvik (293.5). In the overall World Cup Geiger leads before the start of the tour on 29. December in Oberstdorf with 594 points still clearly ahead of Kobayashi (496), who had finished second on Saturday.
Second best DSV eagle was Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden) on a strong eighth place, Constantin Schmid (Oberaudorf) missed the Top 10 as eleventh. Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf), on the other hand, experienced a weekend to forget. After 27th place the day before and a strong qualification jump on Sunday, the six-time World Champion did not manage at all on the hill he does not like and was eliminated with 116.0 m on 35th place.
Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding) at least reached the second round on Sunday and finished 18th., on Saturday he was 43. eliminated. Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) dropped back from twelfth to 25th place after a moderate second jump.
+++++19. December 2021+++++
Freund wins quota place for Four Hills Tournament
Former World Champion Severin Freund has won the German ski jumpers an additional starting place for the complete Four Hills Tournament and can thus also compete himself at the first highlight of the season. The 33-year-old finished fourth and eighth in the two competitions of the second-class Continental Cup in Ruka, Finland, at the weekend, thus securing a quota place for the German Ski Association (DSV) via the COC overall ranking.
The DSV is allowed to announce its World Cup team for the jumps of the Tournament (29. December to 6. January) as well as the two subsequent competitions in Bischofshofen (8./9. January) thus increase to seven athletes. The starting place is not personal, but as the DSV confirmed to the SID, it will go to Freund.
The veteran, who did not make it into the German World Cup squad in November, recently showed strong performances and recorded a victory and a third place at the COC competitions in Vikersund/Norway.
At the first two tour jumping events in Oberstdorf (29. December) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1. January), the DSV may even nominate 13 athletes. The seven World Cup jumpers can be joined by six starters from the so-called national group, which the federation is additionally allowed to have at two home jumps per season.
The national group could therefore also be used at the World Cups in Titisee-Neustadt and Willingen in January or at the Ski Flying in Oberstdorf in March instead of at the Tournament. Recently, however, the DSV always opted for a nomination at the German tour jumps.
+++18. December +++
Geiger wins in Engelberg
The 28-year-old ski flying world champion from Oberstdorf won the dress rehearsal for the Four Hills Tournament on the Gross-Titlis hill with jumps of 137.0 and 140.0 m (287.4 points) ahead of Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi (286.6). Third place went to Timi Zajc from Slovenia (282.4).
With his eleventh career victory, Geiger, who celebrated his first World Cup victory in Engelberg in December 2018, extended his lead in the overall World Cup and will definitely travel to the Four Hills Tournament in the yellow jersey. With 514 points, the German number one is clearly ahead of Kobayashi (396).
Second best German was Constantin Schmid (Oberaudorf) in twelfth place, after the first run the 22-year-old had been in eighth place. The other German jumpers remained behind their possibilities on Saturday. Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden) finished in 21st place. Six-time world champion Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf), who traditionally has problems with the hill in the idyllic mountain resort above Lake Lucerne, and Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) came in tied for 27th place.
Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding), who has improved recently but is not yet consistent, missed the podium after a failed jump in 43rd place. the final of the best 30 clear. On Sunday (16.00 hrs/ZDF and Eurosport), another individual jumping event is scheduled in Engelberg, the Four Hills Tournament will begin on 28. December with the qualification in Oberstdorf.
+++++17. December 2021+++++
Innsbruck and Bischofshofen plan to have spectators at Four Hills Tournament
For the ski jumping decision at the Bergisel in Innsbruck on 4. January the organizers plan with 4000 fans on seats, the qualification day before, however, will take place before empty ranks. At the final in Bischofshofen on 6. January, 3500 spectators (qualification: 1000) are allowed to watch.
The decision was made "in close coordination between the oSV, the local organizing committees and the responsible authorities" fallen, announced the Austrian Ski Association. For all fans, the 2G rule applies, the advance sale begins on 21. December. People who have already bought tickets will get a right of first refusal.
At the German stations in Oberstdorf (29. December) and Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1. January), on the other hand, there will be ghost events for the second time in a row.
+++++17. December 2021+++++
Ski jumper Althaus finishes second in Austria – Kramer wins
Katharina Althaus has given the German ski jumpers their next podium finish. The 25-year-old was only beaten by the outstanding local hero Marita Kramer in Ramsau, Austria, on Friday. Third place went to Ursa Bogataj from Slovenia. Althaus jumped 88.5 and 90 meters and reached for the fifth time this winter a place on the podium. The athlete from Oberstdorf is currently by far the best jumper in the team of national coach Maximilian Mechler. As the second best German Selina Freitag landed on the 18. Place. Pauline Hebler finished 19th., Juliane Seyfarth finished in 26th place. Rank.