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Stoch is happy about the victory in Innsbruck and the overall leadership
© APA (AFP)
The Four Hills Tournament is approaching and when the time comes, a previously colorless Kamil Stoch jumps out of the box in top form. The Polish warrior braved adverse conditions in the circuit’s third competition in Innsbruck, winning confidently and leading the circuit’s standings before the final in Bischofshofen on Wednesday. After the Bergisel jump, hardly anyone believed that the three-time Olympic champion would lead to his third overall victory.
Starting with a 27th place in the World Cup at home in Wisla, the 33-year-old seems to have planned his form optimally again. Second in Oberstdorf, fourth in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and now in Innsbruck his seventh victory in a touring competition. This was thanks to a fabulous first jump (127.5 m) in a phase in which the mounted competition of Halvor Egner Granerud (116.5) had to give more than feathers. Stoch’s advantage in the general classification over his compatriot Dawid Kubacki (third of the day) is 15.2 points before the last two jumps, just over eight meters.
The Corona edition of the tour has long taken a miraculous turn for the Polish team. At Oberstdorf they were still collectively excluded due to a crown case from their teammate Klemens Muranka, but were “pardoned” after 22 hours, two more negative test rounds and with the benevolence of the competition. Now, as in 2017, 2018 (Stoch) and 2020 (Kubacki), Poland could be the outright winner.
“Kamil has shown that he is the boss in the ring,” Stefan Horngacher, the Germans’ Tyrolean head coach, said on German television. Austria’s best man, Stefan Kraft, spoke of a close competition after finishing eighth. “Except for Kamil, who ripped us all off.” The Poles would jump after the Oberstdorf experience, Daniel Huber said. “It’s fascinating and great to watch. There’s a piece to learn.” Even Alexander Stöckl, the head coach of third-placed Norwegian Granerud, said: “Kamil is an experienced athlete. 20 points is a lot.”
Logically, Stoch himself was delighted. “I feel fantastic, it was a very good day for me and the team,” said Stoch, who had not been bothered by the difficult conditions. “It was very nice to show such good jumps here, this is one of my favorite hills.” The following is ready at Pongau in Salzburg: Stoch won at Paul-Ausserleitner-Schanze in 2017 and 2018.
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