Confusion at the start of the tour
Jumper disqualified – Hoffmann suddenly third
Updated 12/29/2025 – 7:06 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Felix Hoffmann actually missed the podium. Shortly afterwards it becomes clear: he benefits from a disqualification and slides up.
The German ski jumpers achieved a podium finish at the start of the 74th Four Hills Tournament. Felix Hoffmann took third place as the best athlete from national coach Stefan Horngacher’s team – and benefited from a disqualification. Because second-placed Slovenian Timi Zajc’s suit did not comply with the rules, Hoffmann was moved up from fourth to third place. Philipp Raimund also moved up and came fifth instead of sixth.
The Slovenian top favorite Domen Prevc secured the victory in Oberstdorf. The 26-year-old Slovenian prevailed on the Schattenbergschanze ahead of defending tour champion Daniel Tschofenig (Austria). Timi Zajc was actually tied with Tschofenig, but was disqualified around 20 minutes after the end of the competition.
Hoffmann jumped 132.5 and 136 meters, Raimund 136 and 133 meters. Hoffmann’s gap to Prevc, who is also the clear leader in the overall World Cup and flew 141.5 and 140 meters, is almost eleven meters. “Everything is close together except for the cathedral,” said the 28-year-old on ARD. “I’m also happy with my two jumps.”
Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger, on the other hand, experienced a debacle. The 30-year-old was eliminated after the first round. Wellinger finished 49th and second to last. Pius Paschke, who traveled to the tour last winter as the leader in the overall World Cup, also did not make it into the top 30 athletes.
Local hero Karl Geiger had already failed in qualifying. In Hoffmann and Raimund there were only two Germans in the second round. The German team is therefore far behind its own expectations.
The jumpers now have a day of rest before qualifying for the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen continues on New Year’s Eve at 4 p.m. (ZDF and Eurosport).