Outstanding DSV eagles only despair of strength
Ski jumper Andreas Wellinger continues the outstanding German podium series with two second places in Lillehammer. But the DSV eagles have also already positioned themselves. However, Stefan Kraft is already the favorite for the Four Hills Tournament.
Andreas Wellinger screamed with joy, then clapped his hands with Karl Geiger, who was also beaming: the German ski jumpers continued their impressive series of podium finishes at the start of the season in the freezing cold Lillehammer. "We have an extremely strong team at the moment, it's great fun," said Wellinger, who was only beaten twice in Norway by the outstanding Austrian Stefan Kraft.
Wellinger now has three podium places after four competitions this season. However, Kraft was once again unstoppable. The veteran was the first jumper since his compatriot Thomas Morgenstern in 2007 to celebrate four victories in the first four competitions and is already the clear favorite for the Four Hills Tournament.
But the DSV eagles have also already positioned themselves. "Second behind Stefan, more is not possible at the moment", said national coach Stefan Horngacher about Wellinger and was also pleased about another first-class team result. Geiger narrowly missed out on the podium both on Saturday on the small Olympic hill from 1994 and on Sunday on the large hill in fourth place. Pius Paschke in sixth and Stephan Leyhe in ninth also finished in the top ten on Saturday.
"Hard work in the summer pays off"
On Sunday, it was onto the neighboring large Bakken - and once again the German team came up trumps behind the top duo of Wellinger/Geiger with Paschke (7th), Leyhe (11th) and Philipp Raimund (12th). "The good and hard work in the summer is paying off," said two-time Olympic champion Wellinger, who remained ice-cold even in temperatures of 19 degrees below zero.
After four competitions, the DSV eagles have already collected five podium places - more than ever before in the history of the World Cup. In the whole of last winter there were only eight. What Horngacher was particularly pleased about was that the strong start in Kuusamo was not a flash in the pan. "That was important. Expectations naturally rise, and the mistakes usually rise too. I'm very satisfied, the guys are sorted," said the Austrian.
Things are not yet going well for the women
The women's race at the same venue was less successful. World champion Katharina Schmid clearly missed the podium with two eighth places on the first World Cup weekend under her new name. "It was a bit of a bumpy start, the jumps didn't come so naturally. It's a shame," said Schmid, who won three World Championship gold medals under her maiden name Althaus in Planica in the spring.
The men continue next weekend with the first home event of the season in Klingenthal. The last German on the podium there was Markus Eisenbichler. The former world champion, who has been in poor form recently, is hoping to return to the A squad - after a strong start to the season, Horngacher is now spoilt for choice.
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Source: www.ntv.de
