Markus Eisenbichler is not involved in the home game in Klingenthal either. The former world champion was not considered for the third World Cup station.
National coach Stefan Horngacher is relying on the same team at the competitions in Saxony that shone in Ruka and Lillehammer. Two individual competitions are on the program in the Vogtland Arena on Saturday and Sunday (4 p.m. each day, live on the Sportschau).
It’s not an easy time for Markus Eisenbichler. The 32-year-old needs patience, good performances in the Continental Cup and also has to hope for weaker performances from jumpers who are currently ahead. And those are some.
The German ski jumpers performed brilliantly in the first two World Cup competitions. There have been twelve podium places so far, five went to Germany, the remaining seven went to Austria and high-flyer Stefan Kraft.
Hamann remains in the team
The DSV Eagles presented themselves as a strong team. The splendid start in Ruka – Martin Hamann was the weakest German in twelfth place – was no flash in the pan. Things also went excellently in Lillehammer – with one exception: Martin Hamann missed the final of the best 30 on the second day. The native of Saxony, who starts for SG Nickelhütte Aue, was probably worried about his start in front of the home fans, at least briefly.
But Horngacher puts his trust in the 26-year-old. For good reason. Hamann got along well at the German Championships in Klingenthal and surprised everyone by winning the individual championship title. With jumps of 137 meters and 130.5 meters, Hamann dethroned Andreas Wellinger and secured the World Cup ticket. “In Klingenthal I’ve fortunately proven several times this year that I can do it“Hamann said optimistically.
Eisenbichler, on the other hand, rotated out of the team and is now finding it difficult to get back on the World Cup carousel. “We want to use the positive results from the first two World Cup weekends to further improve the technical level of the jumps”said Horngacher. The chance of breaking Kraft’s winning streak is greater than ever.
Paschke: “Could be a really cool home World Cup”
The DSV Eagles have completed significantly more jumps on their home hill, know every trick inside out and are looking forward to the support of the fans. “I like the hill. We trained on it a lot in the fall and from that point of view it could be a really cool home World Cup“, said Pius Paschke, who clinched his first World Cup podium in Ruka and, like Karl Geiger, Stephan Leyhe, Philipp Raimund, Andreas Wellinger and Hamann, wants to build on these achievements.
Eisenbichler in the second league
Eisenbichler will probably watch the goings-on from distant Lillehammer with a little sadness. Together with Constantin Schmid (WSV Oberaudorf), Finn Braun (SV Baiersbronn), Felix Hoffmann (SWV Goldlauter), Luca Roth (SV Messstetten), Simon Spiewok (TuS Neuenrade) and Simon Steinbeisser (SC Ruhpolding) he is jumping at the start of the Continental Cup .
The best argument for a quick return to the World Cup is top performances. The ski jump in Norway suits the Bavarian: in 2016 he won a competition in the Conti Cup on this Bakken, and in March he narrowly missed the podium in fourth place at the World Cup. After the weekend the cards will be reshuffled. It remains to be seen whether Eisenbichler will have trump cards in his hand.
Time schedule
Friday, 3:40 p.m.: Men’s qualification
Saturday, 4:00 p.m.: Singles
Saturday, 4:00 p.m.: Singles
posse
Karl Geiger (SC Oberstdorf)
Martin Hamann (SG Nickelhütte Aue)
Stephan Leyhe (SC Willingen)
Pius Paschke (WSV Kiefersfelden)
Philipp Raimund (SC Oberstdorf)
Andreas Wellinger (SC Ruhpolding)