[ad_1]
The winner of the 69th Four Hills Tournament is named Kamil Stoch. The Pole won yesterday after Innsbruck in Bischofshofen in a sovereign way and thus triumphed for the third time after 2017 and 2018 in the traditional competition. Overall, the 33-year-old remained 48.1 points ahead of Germany’s Karl Geiger, who finished third behind Marius Lindvik (Nor) yesterday. “I’m very happy. I enjoyed every second in the air,” said Stoch, who recalls a crazy tour.
As a reminder: before the start in Oberstdorf (D), he was almost prematurely defeated due to a positive crown test from a teammate in the battle for the Golden Eagle trophy, before the Poles were allowed to participate after several negative test series.
Kraft finished fourth
With Stefan Kraft finishing fourth that day, the Austrian jumpers finished the tour without a single podium, like the year before. The last red-white-red victory of the day on the tour, for which Kraft was responsible at Oberstdorf in 2016, is even further behind. Regardless of this doubt, the ÖSV team was projected yesterday with optimism and even satisfaction. “With the exception of Garmisch, it was a great tour for me,” said Kraft, who was eighth and also the best Austrian overall.
It sounded similar to Michael Hayböck, who finished sixth at Bischofshofen. “I’ve never been on a tour like this: eliminated twice and then twice in the top ten. But my self-confidence keeps increasing,” said Kirchberg-Theninger, ninth in Innsbruck. With Oberkappler Markus Schiffner (24th), a second from Upper Austria scored points in the World Cup yesterday, Maximilian Steiner (43rd) from Ebense missed the top 30 decision.
“We are on the way, it is getting closer and closer,” analyzed head coach Andreas Widhölzl, who with Daniel Huber (10th) was happy for a third athlete in the top ten. “It’s a shame we can’t handle the training. I guess the first podium will come soon,” continued the Tyrolean.
Schlierenzauer’s “lack of frustration”?
Gregor Schlierenzauer already has two touring trophies at home. For the Tyrolese, however, the 69th edition came to an inglorious end. The 30-year-old, who was not even considered for the first two seasons due to persistent weakness in form, was disqualified at Bischofshofen. The reason: After a failed first jump, Schlierenzauer did not appear at the materials control, possibly out of frustration with his own performance. “We will talk to him in peace,” Widhölzl announced in an initial reaction.
Schlierenzauer was not nominated for the World Cup competitions in Titisee-Neustadt that followed the weekend. There is certainly strength in the seven-man team (with Hayböck, Schiffner, Steiner). The Salzburg resident will skip Zakopane (Pol) a week after the two singles competitions in Germany to give his back an 11-day break. “The World Cup in general is eaten anyway,” says the 27-year-old defending champion, for whom the World Cup in Oberstdorf at the end of February will be the last goal of the season.
Article of
Reinhold Pühringer
Sports editor
