Stefan Kraft won the opening competition of the 73rd Four Hills Tournament. The Austrian won on Sunday (December 29, 2024) ahead of his compatriots Jan Hörl and Daniel Tschofenig. Pius Paschke did well in fourth place. So there is hope for the first German tour victory in 23 years.
At the Schattenbergschanze, Paschke (Kiefersfelden) was on the podium after the first round, just behind the Austrians Kraft and Hörl. In the final, Paschke jumped 133.5 meters in front of more than 25,000 spectators. That wasn’t enough for third place because Daniel Tschofenig moved from seventh place onto the podium with a dream jump of 140.5 meters and Hörl and Kraft didn’t make a mistake.
National coach Stefan Horngacher said on ZDF: “Pius did a great job in front of this backdrop. On the last jump he couldn’t quite take the air with him. He left one or two meters behind for the podium.”
Three Germans eliminated
Paschke was the only German who was able to be at the front. Only three of the six DSV jumpers who started qualified for the final. Stephan Leyhe, Philipp Raimund and Adrian Tittel were eliminated. Karl Geiger and Andreas Wellinger had no chance of a podium finish after the first round.
Geiger improves tremendously
Geiger lost his duel against the Pole Pawel Wasek (137 meters) in the first round, but made it into the final in 18th place over the Lucky Loser with 135 meters and presented himself aggressively there.
“There’s something else going on”Geiger had announced and delivered a little later: with 137 meters he managed a textbook set. The reward: The Oberstdorfer improved by an incredible ten places and remains in the race for tour victory with the top ten place.
Martin Thiel, Sportschau, December 29, 2024 6:52 p.m
Wellinger solid, but not far enough
For Andreas Wellinger, the tour began with a major disappointment. The 29-year-old, who caused a sensation with his victory in Oberstdorf last year, botched his first jump, was too late at the table, landed at 129 meters and was only in 23rd place.
With 132.5 meters he went a little further and also moved up in the final rankings (20th place), but his performance was not convincing. But for Wellinger, the victory in the ski jump spectacle in four acts is already negligible after the first station.
Raimund is eliminated
Philipp Raimund had a day to forget. The Oberstdorf native could not withstand the pressure in his living room. With 119.5 meters, Raimund, who had not yet achieved his big breakthrough, said goodbye after the first round. However, he was also unlucky with the wind. When Raimund was there, the wind blew from behind, Raimund literally fell from the sky and shook his head in disappointment.
Leyhe speaks of a “total crash”
Stephan Leyhe also messed up his first jump, struggled with a tailwind and lost his direct duel against Benjamin Oestvold from Norway (131.5 m) with only 114.5 meters. Even over the lucky losers, the veteran from Willingen, who has never particularly liked the Oberstdorf ski jump, was not able to make it through to the second round. Things can only get better for Leyhe, who has lost his self-confidence after a mixed season. “I get solid again and then it’s a total crash”he said critically.
Title out too
The same fate befell youngster Adrian Tittel, who was only able to enjoy the incredible atmosphere once. With 119.5 meters, the young Saxon not only lost the direct duel against Paschke, but also jumped out and was only a spectator in the final.
Norwegians suddenly back
The season hasn’t been going well for the Norwegians so far, but just in time for the first highlight of the season, the Scandinavians ignited. In contrast to the Germans, all six jumpers in Oberstdorf made it to the final. Not only was there convincing André Johann Forfang (140 m/136 m), but also Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal (134 m/135.5 m), who positioned themselves for the tour victory. Halvor Elgner Granerud (127 m) was not able to match his performance from the first round (136 m), but was still one of the positive surprises.
Strength now the hunted
We now continue with the New Year’s jumping in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (1:30 p.m., Live-Stream at sportschau.de) as well as the two Events in Innsbruck (January 3rd) and Bischofshofen (January 6th). Then Stefan Kraft will be the hunted one. The Austrian is in top form just in time for the first highlight of the season and celebrated his first win of the season.