Former world champion Markus Eisenbichler will be missing from the start of the Four Hills Tournament for the first time since 2012. Martin Hamann also has to watch.
As the German Ski Association confirmed to the SID, Andreas Wellinger, Karl Geiger, Pius Paschke, Stephan Leyhe and Philipp Raimund will be taking part in the first competition in Oberstdorf on December 29th. There is no national group, so national coach Stefan Horngacher only has five places available.
The poor Eisenbichler has not yet played in the World Cup this winter, and he also fell short of expectations in the second-class Continental Cup. On the 2018/19 tour, the six-time world champion finished second behind the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi; two years ago he came fifth.
Hamann is also missing
Martin Hamann, who has previously competed in the World Cup, also has to watch as the team is reduced from six to five places. “Unfortunately, I will only be able to watch the start of the Four Hills Tournament on television. I will then join the team as part of the national group at the New Year’s competition in Garmisch“, wrote Hamann on sport.de.
Eisenbichler (32) could also be part of the extended German team on New Year’s Day, but he has to take part in the Continental Cup competitions on the 27th/28th. Recommend December in Engelberg/Switzerland. The DSV is allowed to enter an additional national group in two home competitions per season; it does not always choose the two tour competitions for this purpose.
In Innsbruck (January 3rd) and Bischofshofen (January 6th) Horngacher has to reduce the size of his team again. Only a top result in Garmisch-Partenkirchen would enable Eisenbichler to start at the stations in Austria.