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Tuesday, December 29, 2020
Eisenbichler with the furthest flight
Geiger jumps to inaugural tour win
World ski flying champion Karl Geiger wins the opening jump of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf. The hometown hero takes the lead on the first lap with a flight of 127.0 m. Markus Eisenbichler experienced a very dark first jump, but then it increased enormously.
Flying Karl Geiger gave the German Eagles a dream start at the 69th Four Hills Tournament. With his victory at home in front of a ghostly stage at the Schattenbergschanze in Oberstdorf, the nervous hometown hero gained an excellent position in the fight for the overall victory.
World champion Markus Eisenbichler also kept his hopes alive on the tour with a great run to catch up in the second round in fifth place. For the DSV-Springer it was the first victory since Severin Freund five years ago. “It was brutal and two very good jumps. My heart was really beating. If there were still spectators there, it would be perfect. You have to look at the day to day and I will take on the role of favorite,” Geiger said. “Megagile, I wished him to bring it to us, he’s a great dog,” Eisenbichler added.
The big favorite Halvor Egner Granerud had to be content with fourth place, his compatriot Robert Johansson even missed the second round. The world champion in ski flight Geiger (291.1 points), who tested positive for the corona virus two weeks ago, convinced with flights at 127.0 m and 136.5 m and thus remained ahead of Kamil Stoch (Poland / 288.3) and Marius Lindvik (Norway / 285.2). The cheers of the 27,000 fans in the arena did not materialize, instead “Karle” celebrated her first victory in front of thousands of fellow cardboard in the stands.
Eisenbichler almost with a hill record
Eisenbichler, however, failed in his first round with a width of 118.0m and 27th place altogether, but had not yet buried his hopes of victory on the circuit after a set at 142.0m. “Yeah boom!” “Eisei” yelled in relief at the cameras.
After his flight, which was just 1.5m below the hill’s record, Eisenbichler was visibly relieved. “The flight was incredible, really incredible,” said the Bavarian in ZDF. Looking ahead to the overall victory, he still awaits opportunities: “It’s tight, I have to stick with it.” National coach Stefan Horngacher initially had mixed feelings. “It was a pretty sobering first race for us, but we’re up there,” said the Austrian.
The Polish co-favorites finished in the top field after the 24-hour Corona Posse. In addition to Stoch, Andrzej Stekala also convinced in seventh place, defending champion Dawid Kubacki came in at 15th place. “Time for miracles,” Stoch had previously written on Instagram.
Only friend still in points
The Poles were excluded from qualifying at Oberstdorf on Monday after their jumper Klemens Muranka tested positive. After repeated negative tests with Muranka and his teammates, the “Go” was finally given, the qualifying result was canceled and all 62 jumpers were allowed to compete.
The German jumpers were unable to seize the opportunity, only former world champion Severin Freund accumulated points alongside Geiger and Eisenbichler in 25th place. The other DSV athletes around Pius Paschke, Constantin Schmid and Martin Hamann missed the decision from Top 30 when there was a tailwind, as did the troubled kids around world team champion Richard Freitag and Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger.
On Wednesday, the tour entourage travels to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where on Thursday (2 pm / ARD and on the live ticker on ntv.de.) qualification for the second tournament expires on New Year’s Day.
