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After sixth place for Kraft as the best Austrian at the start of the Four Hills Tournament, the ÖSV team is aiming for the podium at the New Years event (2pm, ORF 1 live). In the rankings, Kraft was in fourth place, just 2.5 points from first place.
All the ÖSV jumpers in the final
All Austrians reached the knockout duels of the top 50. Michael Hayböck landed in 12th place, Daniel Huber in 15, Philipp Aschenwald in 23, Markus Schiffner in 28, Jan Hörl in 41 and Thomas Lackner in 46. The first round of the second circuit competition brings the duel ÖSV Schiffner against Aschenwald, Huber has to deal with Ziga Jelar (SLO), Hayböck with Piotr Zyla (POL), Hörl with Johann Andre Forfang (NOR), Lackner with Oberstdorf winner Karl Geiger (GER) and Kraft Aleksander Zniszczol.
Exciting duels at Garmisch
“Of course you look at the opponent in the duel, that’s exciting. But you have to focus on yourself,” Kraft said. “It was a lot of fun today, it was a great qualifying, right behind the first. I felt really good, I finished well last year.” The New Year will be calm and quiet due to the corona pandemic, you definitely want to put your back problems behind you.
Power and relationship with the hill
The 27-year-old hides them as best as possible when he makes the leap. “But I have to be careful. I came up with a good plan, but I have no guarantee that he won’t come back unexpectedly.” The relationship with the Olympic hill is also rich in conflict. In itself, it suits you. “It was always more of a mental or muscular story that I had always struggled a bit over the last few years due to the stress at the beginning in Oberstdorf.” Ranks 13 (2020), 49 and 31 are from the last three years. In 2017, however, he finished third on New Years Day.
Salzburger wants to get involved for the win
Even after the second competition in Germany and before continuing in Austria, the Salzburg native wants to be among the top of the overall standings. “At Oberstdorf it is always important that the view to the front is not too far. At 17 points from six jumps is fine, although that is not that important to me. I just want to jump to the front again at Garmisch.”
Last year’s winner, Marius Lindvik, who traveled to a doctor in Innsbruck due to a severe toothache, was not at the start. The Norwegian finished third in the opening competition and is now just a spectator for now. Russian Danil Sadrejew tested positive for Covid-19 and was not present either.
(Those: APA)
