Ski jumper Philipp Raimund confirmed his top form a good two weeks before the Four Hills Tournament and achieved his third podium finish in a row at the home World Cup in Klingenthal. The 25-year-old from Oberstdorf ended up in third place in the dense Saxon fog in the next victory of the outstanding Slovenian Domen Prevc.
In front of over 20,000 enthusiastic spectators in the Vogtland Arena, Raimund, who had won a World Cup qualification for the first time the evening before, flew on 134.0 and 131.0 m. 271.9 points were enough for his fourth podium finish in the Olympic winter.
Meanwhile, Prevc made the family dream day perfect – his sister Nika won the women’s jumping on Saxony’s largest ski jump at midday. World champion Prevc prevailed with a lead of around 14 meters with 142.5 and 143.0 m (298.5 points). For the noble flyer, who won the World Cup in Klingenthal in 2016 as a 17-year-old, it was the eleventh career success and third victory in a row.
Raimund, who was second after the first round, had to let Stefan Kraft (273.0) pass. Austria’s top jumper came back strong from his maternity break – he became a father for the first time last week.
The other Germans experienced a debacle in front of their home audience. Felix Hoffmann, who had been so consistent recently, only reached the final with difficulty, came in 29th and was therefore the second best DSV Adler.
Meanwhile, Andreas Wellinger’s crisis continues. The two-time Olympic champion, who holds the hill record in Klingenthal together with Michael Uhrmann and the Swiss Gregor Deschwanden (all 143.5 m), was eliminated in 40th place with no chance and in the first round for the third time in a row. He will skip the tour dress rehearsal next weekend in Engelberg.
The early exit came as a surprise for veteran Pius Paschke, who finished 41st behind Wellinger. Luca Roth also missed the second round in 45th place. The 25-year-old came into the team for the out-of-form Karl Geiger, who is doing a week of training at home in Oberstdorf.