The German ski jumpers want to cause a surprise at the 74th Four Hills Tournament.
Philipp Raimund is currently the best German in the overall World Cup in fourth place. Felix Hoffmann is still in the top 10 in ninth place. He is followed by Pius Paschke in 20th place.
“We’re not going into the tour as top favorites, but we definitely have a great chance,” said national coach Stefan Horngacher at the press conference on Saturday. “Actually, we can only win.”
The Slovenian Domen Prevc has dominated the ski jumping winter so far. Ryoyu Kobayashi from Japan is also going strong.
Horngacher can get used to the German outsider role. “That’s good for us. A lot has always been expected of us in recent years,” said the 56-year-old: “We certainly don’t go there and say we have no chance. We know what we can do.”
What are Raimund and Hoffmann doing on tour?
The German hopes for the 74th Four Hills Tournament rest particularly on Raimund. The 25-year-old is the rising star among the DSV Eagles with four podium finishes so far this season. “When it counts, he was always there,” Horngacher praised his protégé.
“I’m sure a few thoughts will come up from time to time, that’s completely normal,” said Raimund himself, looking ahead to the Four Hills Tournament: “But I completely ignored social media. My family is good at it. I had a good Christmas and can go to the tour with a smile.”
“Philip likes it when the stadiums are full. He always jumps well on the tour and was actually always better than his overall World Cup placement,” ex-ski jumper Martin Schmitt recently said on “Eurosport”.
Raimund’s teammate Hoffmann has “amazing potential if you have seen Engelberg. What he shows is really strong. Anyone who has the potential to win a competition can also win the tour,” Schmitt continued. Hoffmann made people sit up and take notice at the tour dress rehearsal in Switzerland with second and third places.