Kobayashi counters Lindvik leadership
The day’s victory went to the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi, who previously also won the qualification on Wednesday afternoon. After 137 meters in the first round, the 24th World Cup winner had to be content with second place. In the final, however, he flew to 137.5 meters and won.
Kobayashi caught Marius Lindvik from Norway. The overall runner-up led after the first round and 137.5 meters with 5.7 points ahead of the Japanese. In the second round, however, the 23-year-old Norwegian only reached 135.5 meters and had to admit defeat by 4.7 points.
With snowfall, some phases of updraft and the resulting shortened approach, Halvor Egner Granerud flew in third place with distances of 135.5 meters twice (- 8.9 points). Granerud improved from fifth to third in the overall standings.
“Impressive” – Kobayashi before Grand Slam
Day winner Kobayashi received a lot of praise from German competitor Geiger after his third victory in the third tour jumping event: “It’s impressive. It also works in his sense, Lindvik could have cracked that today. But he does his stuff, he doesn’t make mistakes and jumps at an extremely high level “, said the Oberstdorfer about the victory of Kobayashi, who like his overall victory 2018/2019 close to the Grand Slam, i.e. the victory of all four competitions.
Geiger: “Got me caught”
Regarding his fourth place, Geiger said: “I don’t see it that badly. It’s a bit of a shame. But it was a good competition today. I’ve got that far. Now we’re moving forward.”, said the 28-year-old, who was disappointed seventh in Garmisch and thus had to tick off the overall victory.
Eisenbichler from 16 to eight
So far fourth overall and best DSV– Jumper Markus Eisenbichler caught just one good jump again. Eisenbichler was annoyed after the first round about a set of 130 meters and 16th place. In the second round, the Upper Bavarian improved to eighth place with 140 meters.
“I started the first one too early. I’m actually always too late. I should trust my feelings more.”, said the 30-year-old after the competition in the sports show. “I did that on the second jump. It was better off the table and then it goes better.”
Horngacher: “Doesn’t always run”
Eisenbichler received praise from national coach Stefan Horngacher: “Markus is jumping a great tour, he went in as a complete underdog. But he shows a lot of good jumps here and was even on the podium once.”said the 52-year-old in the sports show.
Overall, the Austrian was satisfied with the performance of his team and four top 15 places in Bischofshofen: “We improved significantly in the second run”, said Horngacher in the sports show.
“It doesn’t always go as we imagine. But we have shown that we can jump with the front, especially Karl and Markus in the second run. Tomorrow we will continue straight away, we can follow suit right away.”
Kos loses third place
A big disappointment was the jumping in Bischofshofen for the previous third party Lovro Kos from Slovenia. In the first round, the 22-year-old fell after his jump to 136 meters and fell far back in 30th place. In the final, the Slovenian was able to improve to 25th place with 138.5 meters. The tour podium is, however, unreachable far away. Kos fell back to seventh place (-65.1 points).
Thursday: three-way battle for third place
At the final competition on Thursday (January 6th, 2021) in Bischofshofen, however, a three-way battle for third place should arise: Granerud (845.8 points) in third and Eisenbichler (842.4 points) and Geiger (841.7 points) are only 4, 1 counter apart. Kobayashi (884.5 points) should not be able to take the overall tour victory, Lindvik (866.6 points) has a comfortable lead over the overall runner-up.
Friend with half the Olympic standard
Severin Freund flew at 131.5 and 133.5 meters and finished twelfth – the Rastbüchler thus secured half the Olympic standard.
Andreas Wellinger surprised in the afternoon with a strong seventh place in the qualification. In the competition, the 2018 Olympic champion flew with distances of 129.5 meters and 130.5 meters in 15th place. Wellinger had already solved the norm for the Olympic Games with sixth place in Klingenthal.
Leyhe on his 30th birthday 20.
Stephan Leyhe also experienced a conciliatory day. After 130.5 meters and rank 26 in the first round, the Black Forest rider improved again in the final with 135.5 meters. The Willinger flew in 20th place on his 30th birthday.
Schmid is just out of the game
Constantin Schmid and Pius Paschke were eliminated in the first round. Constantin Schmid in particular had bad luck. In the knockout duel, the Oberaudorf player was eliminated from the Japanese Yukiya Sato (137 meters) despite a good distance of 132 meters, but was optimistic:
“I didn’t have such a bad jump, I was also a bit lucky with the conditions. It would be a real shame if I wasn’t allowed to run again.”said the 22-year-old in the sports show. Unfortunately, that’s how it happened. In the Lucky LoserHe was eliminated in sixth place – with a “normal” top 30 ranking, Schmid would have made it into the final as 24th.