Four Hills Tournament - Wind qualifying in Innsbruck: Kobayashi far ahead of Wellinger
Olympic ski jumping champion Andreas Wellinger suffered a small sporting setback in the qualification in Innsbruck.
The overall leader of the Four Hills Tournament did not make it past 119.5 meters and finished in 15th place, while rival Ryoyu Kobayashi from Japan (129 meters) came third in the qualifying round. The points from the qualification do not count towards the ranking, in which Wellinger is currently 1.8 points (the equivalent of one meter) ahead of Kobayashi.
In front of 7500 spectators at Bergisel, Slovenia's Anze Lanisek (134 meters), who had already won the New Year's competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen the day before, won the day's qualification. Top favorite Stefan Kraft from Austria is already almost 15 meters behind the leading duo, but impressed with a jump of 124.5 meters in the qualification, which was influenced by the changing wind. The 30-year-old finished second on the day. Kraft needs to catch up at the stages in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen.
The other German jumpers also had nothing to do with the top places. Behind Wellinger, Philipp Raimund (20th), Stephan Leyhe (30th), Karl Geiger (33rd) and Pius Paschke (35th) also performed significantly worse than expected. The third competition of the traditional event is scheduled for Wednesday (1.30 pm) in Tyrol. The final will then take place on January 6th in Bischofshofen. Wellinger (Oberstdorf) and Lanisek won the first two competitions.
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In the qualifying round of the Four Hills Tournament in Bischofshofen, Austria, where both Wellinger and Kobayashi are expected to perform, they will aim to improve their standings. Despite his setback in Innsbruck, Wellinger remains confident, knowing that the points from qualifications do not contribute to the overall ranking.
Ryoyu Kobayashi, the Japanese ski jumper who secured third place in the Innsbruck qualifying, has been consistently strong in Winter sports, recently finishing second in the Four Hills Tournament's opening event in Oberstdorf. Kobayashi is determined to maintain his form and challenge Wellinger's lead in the tournament.
As the Four Hills Tournament heads to Germany, Stephan Kraft, Austria's top favorite, continues to trail behind the leading duo, Anze Lanisek from Slovenia and Wellinger. However, Kraft's impressive performance in the qualifying round in Innsbruck (124.5 meters) serves as a reminder of his capabilities and his determination to make up ground in the upcoming stages.
Meanwhile, Andi Bauer from Germany managed a respectable 8th place in the Innsbruck qualifying with a jump of 127.5 meters, showing promising signs as he continues to build momentum in the tournament. With four stages remaining before the final in Bischofshofen, athletes like Bauer will need to maintain their consistency and capitalize on opportunities to move up in the rankings.
Throughout the Four Hills Tournament, athletes from various countries, including Austria, Japan, Slovenia, and Germany, showcase their competitiveness and skill in Nordic skiing and ski jumping, demonstrating the global appeal and growth of Winter sports.
Apart from the Four Hills Tournament, other popular Winter sports events like the Winter X Games and the FIS World Championships also attract widespread attention and excitement, catering to the growing number of enthusiasts and participants around the world.
Source: www.stern.de
