Thanks to a strong Andreas Wellinger, the German ski jumpers reached the podium in the PolSKI Tour team competition in Zakopane.
At the dress rehearsal for the team decision at the World Aviation Championships next weekend in Bad Mitterndorf, the Olympic champion made two very strong jumps to ensure that, despite some weaknesses, the DSV quartet still managed to take third place in Austria’s victory.
With 1062.8 points, the German eagles with Wellinger (Ruhpolding), Karl Geiger (Oberstdorf), Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) and Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden) were 46.5 meters short of Austria for the World Cup in the final tally of the first team competition of the season. Leader Stefan Kraft (1146.6). Slovenia came second (1095.5).
In the last of eight rounds, Wellinger gained two places and secured the DSV team’s first podium place in the World Cup in over a year. Most recently, third place was also in Zakopane on January 14, 2023.
Wellinger, who was already in strong form the day before in qualifying for the individual competition when he came second behind Kraft, flew to 138.5 m in the first round, only Kraft (141.0) was better. In the second round he achieved 137.5 in more difficult conditions.
Geiger, who was nominated despite his weak 39th place in the individual qualification on Friday, followed up with a weak jump of 119.0 m with 133.0 in the second round. Paschke (125.5+132.0) flew solidly, Leyhe (131.5+122.5) suffered from bad wind in the second round.
The tour concludes on Sunday (4 p.m./ARD and ZDF) with an individual competition in Zakopane.