Kobayashi ahead of Geiger - Favorites on top in the qualification
Dec 28, 2021·Ski Jumping
The first day of the 70th 4-Hills-Tournament in Oberstdorf wasn't really pleasant: Strong continuous rain and constantly changing wind turned the qualification for the opening competition of the 4-Hills-tournament into a rain-soaked battle with interruption caused by the wind, nothing more and nothing less.
Despite the many interruptions and delays, the qualification offered everything that can be expected from an opening event of a 4-Hills-Tournament. The top favorite Ryoyu Kobayashi took the win in the qualification with a jump of 129 m (149.3 points), followed by local hero Karl Geiger (127.5 m; 144.9 points), the two Norwegians Johann Andre Forfang and Halvor Egner Granerud tied for third with 144.5 points. So the favorites all came out on top on the first day of this season's 4-Hills-Tournament.
"I'm very satisfied, especially after the Christmas break when you don't really know what to expect. The conditions were really bad today, but I'm afraid it's going to be even worse tomorrow, so it was a good test today", Geiger said considering the, once again, miserable weather forecast for the competition on Wednesday.
Besides the four top-ranked athletes, also all the other favorites could show good performances today: Killian Peier, Markus Eisenbichler, and Stefan Kraft came in fifth, sixth, and seventh.
The man of the day was Severin Freund, who made a great comeback in the World Cup with a ninth place in the qualification.
On the other hand, it was a really bad day for Freund's teammate Andreas Wellinger. The 2018 Olympic champion was only 51st, failed to make the cut for the competition, and will not be able to achieve a good result in the overall ranking of the 70th 4-Hills-Tournament. The same fate was shared by Slovenia's Timi Zajc (55th). Zajc, who was considered one of the contenders for a top result, also lost his chances in the overall ranking already today.
The opening competition of the 70th 4-Hills-Tournament starts on Wednesday at 4:30 pm CET.
Statements after the qualification in Oberstdorf (GER):
Simon Ammann (SUI): At the 4-Hills-Tournament they often try harder to carry out a round, than they normally would, but now the conditions are better again. The track is good, despite the rain, the wind conditions were pretty challenging. If you are not in the top group, you have to fight hard, but I'll be competing tomorrow so it's okay for me.
Daniel Tschofenig (AUT): The conditions are difficult, but my jump was good. The training jumps were okay as well, but I was able to improve some things in the qualification. After such a long interruption you have to try and focus again as fast as possible, that's all you can do.
Piotr Zyła (POL): The conditions were changing a lot, sometimes there was more wind, sometimes less. My jump was normal, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either. It was enough to qualify and so I'll get to jump again tomorrow.
Robert Johansson (NOR): It was an okay first day for me, there are still some things I have to work on for tomorrow. I think I just have to let loose and take the chance. I'm looking forward to the competition tomorrow.
Markus Eisenbichler (GER): My jumps are still not perfect, I still see two things that I have to improve, but actually I'm quite satisfied. I'm on the right track. I have to do better right after the take-off and the landing was also terrible. I have to work on that.
Daniel Andre Tande (NOR): I really enjoy jumping on this hill, we have often been here for training camps. I don't think differently about Ski Jumping since my crash in Planica, but my first training jumps so far this season have always been very careful. I have to work on that, because if my first jumps in training can be better, hopefully, my results will be better as well.
Karl Geiger (GER): The second place in the qualification is a really good result for me and I'm very satisfied. The conditions were difficult, you never know what to expect. I think the weather will be even worse tomorrow, so it was a pretty good test today. You can't win the 4-Hills-Tournament in Oberstdorf, but you can lose it here. That's why you need to have a good competition here.
Ryoyu Kobayashi (JPN): My first two jumps weren't as good as I wanted them to be, but the third one in the qualification was really good. Conditions like that are not easy for everyone who has to prepare the hill and the officials, hopefully, nobody gets injured.
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