Ski Jumping's Eagerness for the Tour: Wellinger's Disappointment is Limited to Strength
Lead by the Pyeongchang Olympic champion, Andreas Wellinger, the German ski jumpers stir up great curiosity for the Four Hills Tournament at the onset of December. Wellinger, with consistent strong results, graced the podium twice in Lillehammer and heads a strong World Cup team.
"I'm really in an excellent state, so it's just amusing. I did many things well in the summer," stated Wellinger. The 28-year-old placed second twice and has even surpassed his performance in the 2017/18 Olympic gold-winning season. "We were extremely pleased with the weekend," commented national coach Stefan Horngacher.
The Austrian athlete, Stefan Kraft, is currently in peak form, securing four victories from four competitions to kick off the winter season. "This is an enchanting place for me. It's a lot of fun, even if it's frigid," mentioned Kraft following the jumpers dealing with temperatures of around -15 degrees throughout the weekend.
Kraft Usurps Weißflog
Kraft clinched his 33rd and 34th World Cup victories in the 1994 Olympic venue, surpassing German icon Jens Weißflog (33). Kraft's remarkable form paves the way for potential equality with Janne Ahonen (36) as early as the upcoming Klingenthal competition next week. "Flight is most significantly my strong suit," Kraft shared with ZDF. A six-week exploration around the globe during the summer inspired Kraft.
The situation poses a challenge for the German team: Horngacher's squad exhibits surprising strength with four athletes who could secure top-three positions. Nevertheless, the victories appear to have already been pre-decided before the competition begins. "Second place behind Kraft, that's all that's achievable at the moment. I'm utterly satisfied," mentioned head coach Horngacher with disillusionment.
Geiger Excels with Two Fourth Places
Behind Wellinger, Pius Paschke, Karl Geiger, and Stephan Leyhe are part of the extended world elite for the German team. Geiger managed a fourth-place finish twice in Norway. "It was entirely positive. I'm mega-happy. It was an absolute blast. It was chilly, but it was an outstanding day for me," said the Allgäu native. Geiger seems to have mastered the technical problems from the inaugural weekend in Ruka and is now among the elite. Paschke and Leyhe have also achieved a podium finish each in this brief winter season.
The German home event in Klingenthal will take place next week, followed by the traditional warm-up in Engelberg, Switzerland. The clock is ticking for former world champion Markus Eisenbichler, who hasn't partaken in the World Cup squad yet. Wellinger, Leyhe, Geiger, and Paschke are likely to be seeded for the tour. Philipp Raimund and especially Martin Hamann displayed weaknesses during this weekend's competition and are at risk for being uncertain candidates.
Additional Insights
- Austria's Dominance: Austrian ski jumpers have been dominating the World Cup this season. With Stefan Kraft leading the way, Daniel Tschofenig and Gregor Schlierenzauer have also created a strong presence, elevating the entire Austrian team.
- Shifting Forms: Although the German team is in good form, there is always a risk of athletes momentarily losing their edge during the competition. This may create opportunities for other teams to seize the top spots.
The anticipation for Andreas Wellinger and the German team ahead of the Four Hills Tournament is high, as they swagger with a strong Winter sports team in the competition. Wellinger, the 2018 Olympic champion, has enjoyed consistent strong performances, including two second-place finishes in Lillehammer and leading the World Cup team.
Stefan Kraft, the Austrian ski jumper, can currently boast being in top form, with four consecutive victories, including two in the 1994 Olympic venue in Lillehammer. Kraft is now within reach of matching Janne Ahonen's World Cup victory record if he clinches a victory in Klingenthal next week.
Andreas Wellinger, Pius Paschke, Karl Geiger, and Stephan Leyhe are part of the extended world elite for the German team. While Kraft reigned supreme in Lillehammer, Geiger claimed four fourth-place finishes, improving on the technical issues he faced during the opener in Ruka.
Meanwhile, Stefan Horngacher, the German coach, expressed disillusionment with the situation of his team, stating that they have four athletes capable of making it onto the podium but that the championships appear to have already been decided before the competition starts.
The German home event in Klingenthal will take place next week, followed by the traditional dress rehearsal in Engelberg, Switzerland. Time is running out for former world champion Markus Eisenbichler, who hasn't yet been part of the World Cup squad. Wellinger, Leyhe, Geiger, and Paschke are likely to be seeded for the tour. However, Philipp Raimund and particularly Martin Hamann revealed weaknesses during this weekend's competition and might be shaky candidates for the tour.
Additional Insights
- Austrian Impact: Austrian skiers, led by Stefan Kraft, have dominated the World Cup this season, securing multiple wins and challenging other top athletes. Their ability to maintain their strong performances during the Four Hills Tournament will be crucial for Austria's overall standing in the competition.
- Question Marks Surrounding German Ski Jumpers: Despite being in strong form, questions surround the German team and their ability to sustain their performance throughout the competition. The close-fought battles during the Ski Jumping World Championships in February 2020 underline the intense competition among top athletes, as Germany struggled to secure a podium finish.
Overall, the Four Hills Tournament promises to be an exhilarating event, with several well-versed and strong athletes from Germany, Austria, and Norway vying for the top positions. Both Austrian dominance and growing concerns regarding the German team will add an extra layer of excitement to the competition.
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Enrichment Data:
Performing at their best is essential to achieving top spots in the Four Hills Tournament. Let's examine the current form and expectations for prominent skiers in the competition:
- Daniel Tschofenig (Austria):
- Current Form: Tschofenig is having an extraordinary breakthrough season, with seven victories so far and a lead of 1346 points in the overall standings. Forcing his way into the Four Hills Tournament, Tschofenig has already secured his third Four Hills title in Bischofshofen in early January 2021[2][4].
- Andreas Wellinger (Germany):
- Current Form: Wellinger has been experiencing varying levels of consistency, with no top-three finishes since the middle of December in Lake Placid, where he clocked fourth in the individual competition and ninth in the mixed team[1][5].
- Stefan Kraft (Austria):
- Current Form: Kraft is showing strong showings, including surpassing the 130-meter mark in the second round of the Sapporo World Cup. Despite finishing outside the podium in the most recent Willingen World Cup, where Tschofenig took the win, Kraft's form remains solid preferably for the Four Hills Tournament[1].
- Karl Geiger (Germany):
- Current Form: Few recent specific performance details are available for Karl Geiger. However, given his involvement as a consistent top German athlete, public interest remains in watching his form as the Four Hills Tournament approaches[1][4].
Anticipation for the Four Hills Tournament
The Four Hills Tournament anticipation is high, with competitors like Daniel Tschofenig and other top athletes boosting excitement for the tournament. This highly-regarded competition, which takes place in Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck, and Bischofshofen, typically draws top-ranked skiers from around the world. Potential Tschofenig domination shall be utilized, while athletes like Wellinger and Kraft try to recapture their form and challenge for the top spots[2][4].
