Karl Geiger and Co. have completely achieved the World Championship decision on the large hill. But others jumped to the top in Thursday’s qualification.
The German hopes for a medal in ski jumping were dampened in the men’s qualification on the large hill. In the qualification for the World Championships on Friday (March 3rd, 2023), Karl Geiger finished seventh on Thursday (March 2nd, 2023) as the best German. However, Geiger was already 12.1 points behind qualifying winner Timi Zajc.
Zajc wins in front of two Poles
The Slovenian local hero Zajc flew 136.0 meters and clearly prevailed against the two Poles Dawid Kubacki (131.5 meters / + 5.4 points) and Kamil Stoch (136.0 meters / + 5.6 points). Like Geiger, World Cup leader Halvor Egner Granerud did not make a top jump, with 129.0 meters the Norwegian finished eighth directly behind the German.
Wellinger, Eisenbichler and Schmid miss the top 10
In the World Cup decision on Friday, however, the German quartet is all there: Geiger (131.0 meters) in seventh place as well as Andreas Wellinger (128.0 meters), Markus Eisenbichler (132.0 meters), Constantin Schmid (131.0 meters). ) in 12th, 18th and 19th had no trouble jumping into the top 50.
Geiger: “It was almost fun”
Nevertheless, the Germans and national coach Stefan Horngacher were not dissatisfied: “I was already significantly improved today. The jump was almost fun. This is how it goes in the right direction”, so Geiger in the sports show. Wellinger said: “There are still a few meters to go. But I’m satisfied. This is the best jump so far. I don’t hit my center of gravity properly at the top and I can’t really get to the edge.”
Horngacher: “Karl knows how to conquer the hill”
Horngacher analyzed his team’s jumps like this: “We got a little bit closer”said the Austrian in the sports show. “Yesterday in training it didn’t go so well. It’s a specific hill, it goes high away from the take-off table, you have to get the right angle right away so that you can slide well. Karl’s jump goes in the right direction. We’re on the way, but it’s going to be tricky. As always, it’s extremely tight.”
Geiger received special praise from the national coach: “Karl actually has the biggest problems here. But he works very well. Yesterday in training he told me he now knows how to conquer the hill.”
Eisenbichler only strong in training
In the four training jumps on Wednesday and Thursday, Eisenbichler achieved the best results from a German perspective with a third (132.0 m) and a fourth (128.0 m) place. But in the qualification, despite good conditions, he didn’t get off the ground and finished just 19th, just ahead of Schmid.
“Markus prefers the hill”
Hongacher said about the jumps of “Eisei” Eisenbichler: “Normally, Markus is best at this hill. We tried to set him up so that he has the same rhythm as in training. He didn’t quite succeed. He still wants to saddle up a bit.” Eisenbichler could clearly hear the anger after his qualification: “Of course it’s my own fault. I’m not happy with the jump. It’s getting on my nerves. There were no external conditions. I just jumped off too late.”said the seven-time World Cup medalist in the sports show.
So far six German ski jumping medals
In the previous five medal decisions of Planica, the Germans have already won six medals in the individual and team competitions. Katharina Althaus won on the normal hill and was third on the large hill, Wellinger and Geiger won silver and bronze on the normal hill. There was gold in the mixed team and in the women’s team.
Raimund can’t get past Schmid
Philipp Raimund, who finished 13th overall at the Four Hills Tournament, was not in the qualification. was the second best German. The 22-year-old was unable to beat his internal competitor Constantin Schmid in training on Wednesday (February 1st, 2023). Raimund was worse than Schmid in all three training jumps – so he had to watch on Thursday and remains in Planica without a World Championship appearance.