For the German ski jumpers, the Four Hills Tournament has not gone as hoped so far. National coach Horngacher wants to draw something positive from this.
“So many people”says Karl Geiger and grins. “And so much light.” The spotlight is still on the German team. Nothing has changed after two of four competitions and when looking at the overall ranking of the Four Hills Tournament. Pius Paschke, who after a strong start to the season, podium places and victories in recent weeks, when German fans and those responsible were hoping for a tour victory, has now fallen back – sixth place and 25 points behind Daniel Tschofenig from Austria.
“Of course we started with the goal of winning the Four Hills Tournament”says Stefan Horngacher in the spotlight of the German team’s half-time press conference and wrinkles his forehead. “We are currently not quite where we want to be.” The national coach and his athletes had imagined it differently and had hoped to win the tournament again 23 years after Sven Hannawald’s victory.
Paschke: “That does something to me”
The hope, the expectations – they have not left an experienced jumper like Paschke unscathed. The Bavarian, who is actually at peace with himself, was still completely with himself even at the dress rehearsal for the tour, the World Cup in Engelberg “had his stuff together”lost that calm, that certainty, in the past few days. “Everything surrounding the tour is always a little more. Of course that has something to do with me”reveals the 34-year-old.
The spotlights have been on him for weeks. He tried to classify all the hustle and bustle and sort it out for himself. “I did quite well in Oberstdorf, but unfortunately I didn’t do quite as well in Garmisch.”said Paschke, who couldn’t find his system, especially in the first round of the New Year’s competition. The silence after the jump to 129 meters was almost tangible. It was immediately clear to the fans what Paschke summarized a day later: “It happens so quickly and then you’re a little further away.”
With light luggage on the Bergisel
For the national coach it is clear that the fight for tournament victory is no longer a big issue at the moment. “I don’t think we need to think much about the overall standings”says Horngacher. “Not everything worked out the way we imagined, but the approach, the technical work continues and it’s going very well at the moment.” The Austrian doesn’t want to worry about the two competitions in his home country and sees something positive in the situation. “The positive thing for us is that the touring backpack has become significantly lighter for us.”
The Bergisel in Innsbruck is now waiting with light luggage – a ski jump about which even the Austrians say that the tour can hardly be won here, but can certainly be lost. Whether that also applies to them this year is questionable. Because the Austrian team dominates the overall ranking with Tschofenig in first place, followed by Jan Hörl and Stefan Kraft. And the tingling feeling before jumping home – it doesn’t just increase among young athletes like Tschofenig. For Kraft, for example, every tour is a new highlight. “You’re sitting on the beam and you have goosebumps all over your body”he says.
Tour end for Leyhe
That’s exactly how Paschke feels – although he and Austria’s experienced athlete Kraft are separated by three years – both of them set their focus consciously. “At the two stations I tried to take with me the positive things that come with all the hype.”said Paschke and recalled that Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger, two of his teammates, also showed what they were made of on this tour. “As a team, we’re still cool. We’re continuing to attack and are now looking forward to Innsbruck.”
Stephan Leyhe will no longer be there. “After yesterday’s competition, we decided that Stephan Leyhe would go out and Felix Hoffmann would come in”says Horngacher about the sporting end of North Hesse: “We want to line up based on performance.” The headlights – they will also be aimed at the youngster on Bergisel. The German team is looking forward to the third of four stations – and so is the national coach: “We can jump up freely and work our way forward individually.”