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Norwegian season series winner and World Cup leader Halvor Egner Granerud arrives in Austria as halftime leader of the 69th Four Hills Tournament. The 24-year-old convinced the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen with a second place, but this time he was no match for defending champion Dawid Kubacki.
The Pole celebrated his fifth World Cup success with a magnificent second jump and a hill-record distance of 144 meters. “I am incredibly happy. If you consider that we could hardly have participated in the tour, that’s extraordinary,” said Kubacki, referring to the team’s internal crown case before the inaugural competition in Oberstdorf.
How fit the Poles are, they underlined with a brilliant team result. With Kubacki, Piotr Zyla (3rd) and Kamil Stoch (4th), a trio landed in the top four, ahead of the best Austrian. Philipp Aschenwald finished sixth and also occupies this position in the general classification. The difference with Granerud is already 24.3 points.
Recoil for strength
“I am very satisfied, I have improved again,” said Zillertal Aschenwald, 25. “There is not much left on the podium, maybe it will work at home.” In Innsbruck (Sunday) and Bischofshofen (January 6), the ÖSV team wants to present themselves aggressively, yesterday’s result – with Daniel Huber (14th), only one other athlete reached the top 15 – can be improved.
Philipp aschenwald Image: REUTERS
World ski flight record holder Stefan Kraft knows this too, as he is no longer allowed to calculate any chances for the “golden eagle”. A bad second jump saw the Salzburg man slide to a disappointing 28th place at Garmisch. That hurts. “It twisted me a bit with the stem, I don’t know exactly why I failed. Of course I am very disappointed. That was not what I set out to do. I have to mark it and analyze it,” said the 27-year-old. : “I actually had cool, stable jumps. I have no idea where that one comes from.”
The competition was even worse for Markus Schiffner (33rd) and Michael Hayböck (34th), who, as in Oberstdorf, missed the final of the top 30.
Marius Lindvik did not publish any results. Last year’s winner at Great Olympic Hill in Garmisch unintentionally shone this time due to his absence. The Norwegian, third in Oberstdorf, had a purulent wisdom tooth removed and the Lindvik tour ended with it. Bad luck.
Today (1.30pm, ORF 1) qualifying for the Bergisel jump on Sunday (1.30pm, ORF 1) in Innsbruck. Thanks to the national group, the ÖSV will be represented with a large contingent of 13 men, including three from Upper Austria.
In addition to the two UVB athletes Hinzenbach, the hill record holder Hayböck (138 meters) and Schiffner, Maximilian Steiner (WSV Bad Ischl) was urged. The 24-year-old from Ebense recently impressed at the Engelberg Continental Cup with a fifth place finish and a one-day win.
The last red-white-red triumphant at the Bergisel to date was Gregor Schlierenzauer (30) eight years ago. The veteran joins the tour today. “Of course I was disappointed that I was not allowed to be in Oberstdorf and Garmisch. I hope I can do well,” said the Tyrolean, who did not surpass 24th and 30th in Engelberg this season at the World Cup. (Alex)
