The German ski jumpers are more successful than they have been for a long time. Three DSV Eagles could have a say in winning the tour.
The nominations from national ski jumping coach Stefan Horngacher came without any major surprises. No wonder, after all, the squad for the Four Hills Tournament practically sets itself up given the recent top performances of the DSV Adler.
Wellinger, Geiger and Paschke lead the DSV team
Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding), Karl Geiger (Oberstdorf) and the recently strong Pius Paschke (Kiefersfelden) lead the German squad. As expected, Horngacher also chose Philipp Raimund (Oberstdorf) and Stephan Leyhe (Willingen). The German champion Martin Hamann (Aue), who is part of the six-man squad in the World Cup, has been removed from the tour squad; only five athletes are allowed to register there.
“We want to stay focused and concentrated and be present from the first competition”Horngacher sets the target. “At the same time, we know from our experience over the last few years that we can’t force anything on the tour – even if the preliminary work was good.”
Hannawald: DSV Adler “stronger than they have been for a long time”
The German jumpers were “stronger than I have been for a long time”, says ARD ski jumping expert Sven Hannawald in the Sportschau interview. This can also be proven with numbers. There are currently three Germans in the top four in the overall World Cup.
Andreas Wellinger goes into the tour as second overall in the World Cup. The Ruhpoldinger was in the top five in seven of eight competitions this winter. He landed on the podium twice and narrowly missed victory twice in Lillehammer. The 28-year-old slides “Always a perfect jump”says Hannawald.
The expert believes that his only drawback is his consistency. Wellinger does “difficult to always recall”. The athlete also sees it that way and therefore only wants to think “from jump to jump”. “I’ve done well with this so far this season and will continue to use this system on the tour.”
Lack of consistency from Geiger
Karl Geiger, who has often been one of the favorites for the Golden Eagle in recent winters, is currently fourth in the overall World Cup. In Klingenthal he was at the top twice, but his performance has fluctuated recently. This was also shown by the tour dress rehearsal in Engelberg, where he came 20th and fourth the next day.
Expert Hannawald knows the reasons for the lack of consistency. The Oberstdorfer has repeatedly had problems with the new material. Geiger himself doesn’t want to overestimate his chances. “I know that the jumps can be very good, but the consistency isn’t there yet”said Geiger at BR24Sport. That’s why he tries himself “not to put any pressure”.
Team grandpa Paschke is suddenly the favorite
Or does the wave of euphoria carry the “grandpa of the team” (Hannawald) Pius Paschke to victory on the tour. The 33-year-old recently celebrated his first World Cup victory in Engelberg and is currently third in the overall standings. For Hannawald, the Kiefersfelden native is “the most stable” in the German team. Hannawald believes Paschke also has the new rule changes to thank for his late career high. There was too much leeway in the interpretation here. “Now it’s more neutral and fair and jumpers like Pius are coming to the fore.”
Paschke’s tour experiences and especially successes do not come close to those of his teammates. In addition, like Wellinger and Geiger, he is faced with increased expectations. “I think he’s learned well and isn’t going crazy now. He knows his jump is working,” reassures Hannawald. He has decided his “wanting to jump on the best tour”said Paschke in the run-up to the competitions. “Other people will decide what result will be achieved.”
Unlike their teammates, the other Germans Philipp Raimund and Stephan Leyhe are not among the favorites to win the tour. Leyhe flew straight onto the podium at the start in Ruka and was in the top ten three more times. Philipp Raimund had to miss the jumping in Engelberg due to illness. His best result of the season was a seventh place in Ruka.
Katharina Schmid and Co jump “Two Nights Tour”
But it’s not just the German men who have to work after Christmas. The women also jump. “Two Nights Tour” is the name of the model. This is far from being a Four Hills Tournament, which has been vehemently demanded by the athletes for years – a maximum of half. The DSV nominated Katharina Schmid (Oberstdorf), Selina Freitag (Oberwiesenthal), Luisa Göhrlich (Lauscha) and Anna Rupprecht (Degenfeld) for the competitions in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (December 30th) and Oberstdorf (January 1st).