Vierschanzentournee: Austria Dominates Again in Innsbruck

Vierschanzentournee: Austria Dominates Again in Innsbruck

On January 4, 2025, Pius Paschke finished eighth in the third leg of the Four Hills Tournament in Innsbruck, making him the best-performing member of the German team. However, he must come to terms with a disappointing overall ranking. The day was highlighted by an exciting finish, where Austrian Stefan Kraft secured the day’s win amidst tight competition from his compatriots.

With jumps of 131.5 meters and 132 meters, Kraft outperformed his fellow Austrians Jan Hörl and Daniel Tschofenig. Following the first round, the gap among the top three Austrian jumpers was a mere 0.9 points, showcasing the high stakes of this event.

Day's Results

In a thrilling final round, Kraft edged out Hörl by 1.4 points, while Tschofenig, who had led earlier, fell behind, finishing with a total deficit of 10 points. The remarkable closeness in scores indicates that the tournament is still very much alive as the next phases approach.

Despite a solid performance, Paschke extended his points deficit in the overall standings, now 39.6 points behind Kraft. He expressed no regrets, stating, "Each competitor is a blacksmith of their own fortune, and the others are just jumping extremely well. It seems I lack a bit of the lightness that I had earlier this winter."

Bundestrainer Stefan Horngacher commented on the overall heaviness of the team's performance, indicating that the pressure to perform may have left the athletes feeling tense rather than relaxed.

Other Notable Performances

Only Paschke reached the final round from the German side, joined by teammates Andreas Wellinger and Philipp Raimund, with Wellinger finishing 13th overall. Raimund achieved his best result of the season, moving up from 23rd to 15th with a jump of 128.5 meters in the finals.

Geiger, who was expected to perform well, sadly missed out on the finals, finishing 34th after a disappointing jump.

Conclusion

As the tournament progresses to the next round on January 5th and 6th in Bischofshofen, the competition remains fierce, with Austrian jumpers poised for a potential podium sweep. Current standings place Kraft slightly ahead of Tschofenig, making the upcoming days crucial for all competitors involved.