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– Austrian ski jumping men have been without a victory at the highest individual level for more than a year, 25 World Cup competitions and the World Cup decision on the Oberstdorf normal hill took place without a red-white-red winner. Most recently, Stefan Kraft was successful in Lahti on February 28, 2020, and he is also Austria’s great hope for the World Championship big hills competition on Friday (5pm, ORF 1 live). The Salzburg man won both the test and qualifying on Thursday.
Stefan Kraft points out in Oberstdorf
Kraft had already shown ranks 2, 1 and 9 in training on Wednesday. “I am glad that it was like that again today,” the 27-year-old told the APA – Austrian Press Agency. “One day can happen once. Two days, you have to be really good at it.” He found the sensation in the second mixed run and has stabilized it ever since. “The change in trend is paying off. Today has already become more natural and I hope that tomorrow will continue to be so relaxed and fresh.”
Favorite on a big hill
The two-time Lahti 2017 world champion is clear that he is now in the circle of favorites, but the ten-time world medalist can handle the role well. “I prefer it, I know I can jump for medals. I definitely sleep better than I jump for 10th or 15th place all the time.” Despite all the routine he will get nervous in the competition. “I always will when it comes to the sausage. But that’s where I usually do the best jumps.”
Kraft was placed at the top of the list of results with a jump of 127 m, the door and the points of wind also helped him. His teammate Daniel Huber jumped the same distance and finished in seventh place. The man from Salzburg had been a bit uneasy about a failed test. “I had to fight again. I let myself lose confidence a bit quickly, it doesn’t have to be this way. But I have the feeling that I have to do it and that I am clear about it.”
Good podium chances for ÖSV-Adler
The 28-year-old is confident that with any luck Red-White-Red will be part of the battle for the medals. Philipp Aschenwald might also have a say. In tenth place for him he was 130 m on the scoreboard. “I put some on the table. When I hit it, the energy goes much better.” The tailwind pushed Jan Hörl to the ground at 107.0 m, he was 32º and received 20.6 points of wind. “It’s a different sport then,” said the 22-year-old.
Behind Kraft landed the Norwegian Johann Andre Forfang (133.5 m), the German defending champion Markus Eisenbichler (127.5) and the normal Pole Piotr Zyla (127.0). Eleven-time Norwegian season winner Halvor Egner Granerud is not there due to a crown infection. Incidentally, Kraft has now written four world championships in a row with mixed bronze, winning a total of ten medals, thus working at least twice in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
Hayboeck in waiting position
In the Oberstdorf World Cup competition of little Bakken, Michael Hayböck came in seventh as the best of the ÖSV quartet. Now, of all things, he is not there on his 30th birthday, Upper Austria left on Thursday. Manuel Fettner only narrowly missed in the internal classification against Hörl. After his “last minute” nomination, the 35-year-old has yet to appear at the World Cup in Allgäu, he remains as a substitute jumper for the team competition.
The top four Austrians from the tournament jumping as of December 29 will be used in the singles. When German Karl Geiger won, Kraft finished sixth, Aschenwald eighth, Hörl eleven and Huber 13. “I always had a very good start to the tour,” said Kraft, 2016 winner of Oberstdorf. Wednesday’s training, namely Huber with ranks 3.5 and 6, Aschenwald with 10, 6 and 1, Hörl with 8, 10 and 6.
(Those: APA)
