For the six-time ski jumping world champion Markus Eisenbichler, the Four Hills Tournament is over again after one competition. Stephan Leyhe is no longer there either.
The 33-year-old Eisenbichler will not compete with the German team in Innsbruck, as national coach Stefan Horngacher announced in the team hotel in Lans.
“After yesterday’s competition, we decided that Stephan Leyhe would go out and Felix Hoffmann would come in. That’s why the choice fell on him. We want to line up based on performance” said Horngacher. He didn’t even mention the name Eisenbichler.
Next setback for Eisenbichler
Eisenbichler finished 32nd in the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and therefore did not collect any World Cup points. Horngacher left Eisenbichler out of the squad for the start of the tour after a weak weekend in Engelberg. In Garmisch he should have a chance through the national group.
The 2019 world champion will miss the return to the place of his greatest triumph. At Innsbruck’s Bergisel, where the jumping takes place on Saturday (1.30 p.m./ARD and in the live ticker), Eisenbichler won gold on the large hill almost six years ago. The non-nomination is now the next setback for Eisenbichler.
In addition to the seeded athletes Pius Paschke, Karl Geiger, Andreas Wellinger and Adrian Tittel, Philipp Raimund and Felix Hoffmann can travel to Tyrol. “Felix did well in Garmisch”said Horngacher. Hofmann replaces Stephan Leyhe, who was eliminated in the first round both in Garmisch (36th) and in Oberstdorf (48th).
The 27-year-old Hoffmann, who competed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen as part of the additional German contingent of the national group, took 25th place in the second tournament competition.