Stefan Kraft wins prologue in Courchevel
Aug 07, 2021·Ski Jumping
Austria's Stefan Kraft won the prologue for the Ski Jumping Grand Prix in Courchevel (FRA) on Saturday morning. Kraft posted a jump of 129 m and scored 107.1 points, with this performance he finished ahead of his teammate Markus Schiffner and Simon Ammann of Switzerland.
50 athletes were participating today, and so the jury turned the originally planned qualification into a prologue and every jumper will be taking part in the competition later this afternoon.
In good weather conditions, Kraft showed a convincing performance in his first appearance this summer, after the 28-year-old did not compete in the Grand Prix opener in Wisla. "It's, of course, great if it goes that well right in the first training and the prologue. I like this hill and the entire area here a lot", said Stefan Kraft, who was satisfied with his start into the summer.
Kraft's teammate Markus Schiffner had the longest jump of the round with 131 m and confirmed his very good shape from Wisla, Simon Ammann surprised with a 130 m jump and the third place in today's prologue.
The best German jumper was Pius Paschke in fourth, Anze Lanisek finished sixth, Klemens Muranka was the best of the Poles in seventh.
The men's competition in Courchevel is scheduled for 6 pm CET, but athletes and officials alike are a bit nervous due to the weather forecast, which predicts thunderstorms for the French Alps in the region around Courchevel. With a little bit of luck, the thunderstorms will not reach Courchevel before about 8 pm CET, when the competition should already be over.
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