After the tight opening competition in Oberstdorf, everything is still open in the fight for the tour victory. Even at the traditional New Year’s event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, every meter counts. A co-favorite, however, was eliminated in advance.
Good news for the German ski jumping fans: Markus Eisenbichler has won the qualification for the second jump of the Four Hills Tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The DSV-Adler jumped 137 meters on the large Olympic hill and secured first place in front of the tour leader Ryoyu Kobayashi (134 meters) from Japan and Karl Geiger from Oberstdorf (135.5 meters). Stephan Leyhe (SC Willingen) finished ninth.
The German show jumper and tour favorite Geiger was happy after jumping with his buddy Eisenbichler. In a media round at the ski jumping hill, in which t-online was also present, the current fifth in the overall ranking said: “Thank God he sat there” and alluded to Eisenbichler with a mischievous smile at the end of the qualification in the The leader’s box was seated.
Karl Geiger presented himself to the journalists’ microphones after his third place in the Garmisch-Partenkirchen qualification and was even in the mood for jokes. (Source: Alexander Kohne / t-online)
“Those were good jumps today and I’m very satisfied with third place. And having a team-mate in the lead gives you a boost. You know that you’re not alone,” added Geiger.
Co-favorite Kraft verbaselt the qualification
However, there was bad news for the Austrian team, because Stefan Kraft caused the negative surprise in qualifying. The co-favorite on the tour title was eliminated and thus missed the New Year’s competition on Saturday.
Geiger emphasized once again how important it is to be fully concentrated during the qualification: “That is also the challenge on the tour,” said the native of Allgäu.
He also stated: “The field is very close together and you really shouldn’t allow yourself any weaknesses. Just take a chance on luck, that won’t work. That’s why you really have to use every day and especially every competition jump extremely well.”
Eight German jumpers take part in the New Year’s competition
Overall, the German team showed a good performance on Friday. In addition to Eisenbichler, Geiger and Leyhe, five other German DSV eagles advanced. Constantin Schmid, Severin Freund, Justin Lisso, Felix Hoffmann and Andreas Wellinger will also be there at the New Year’s jump on Saturday (from 2 p.m. in the t-online live ticker).
The qualifying afternoon on Friday was particularly bitter for Martin Hamann and Philipp Raimund, who narrowly dropped out on ranks 51 and 52. You will therefore only be able to watch the 100th New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen as a spectator.
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