Four Hills Tournament: Eggnog as a reward: Austria dominates Paschke & Co.

Tour leader Stefan Kraft flexed his muscles in front of the raging fans, and the German ski jumpers, who had been reduced to extras, could only marvel once again. Near tears, Innsbruck winner Kraft was looking forward to a lasagna feast and announced: “There’s a round of eggnog on the bus.” Pius Paschke and his German teammates were at least as far away from such a celebratory mood as they were from victory on the Bergiselschanze. As the best of national coach Stefan Horngacher’s team, Paschke only took eighth place in Kraft’s spectacular air show.

The golden eagle for the overall winner of the Four Hills Tournament has long been out of reach for Germany and the podium is no longer realistic at the latest. Paschke jumped 128.5 and 123.5 meters. He lost 23 points on strength. The 31-year-old and his Austrian pursuers Jan Hörl (second on the day) and Daniel Tschofenig (third on the day) will fight for the tour victory between themselves. The trio is the equivalent of less than a meter apart.

“The tour is over. The Austrians will decide that,” Horngacher also stated on ARD. “You have to accept that and respect it.” He is not disappointed. “Otherwise I would have been disappointed for 23 years.” At that time, Germany won the tour for the last time to date. A nation occupying the entire podium after the event has only happened three times in 72 tour editions.

“Everyone is the maker of their own luck. The others are just jumping extremely well at the moment,” said Paschke. “Something is missing for me. The lightness isn’t quite there.”

German chances are minimal even before the Bergisel jump

Hours before the competition, the first ski jumping fans made a pilgrimage to the mountain above the city. Beer and mulled wine were already flowing in the morning and the atmosphere was great. The spectators swayed warmly on the steep steps of the stadium to “Marble, Stone and Iron Breaks” and international hits. For the first time in a long time, the iconic arena with a view of the Nordkette mountains shining in the sun and the old cemetery was sold out. 22,500 spectators wanted to be there.

In the past, German tour hopes were often dashed at the infamous Bergisel. This time the chances of the first overall victory since Sven Hannawald’s triumph in 2002 were minimal even before the third stop on the tour.

Paschke’s form was only outstanding until shortly before Christmas

And that despite Paschke starting the event as the leader in the overall World Cup. The 34-year-old won five of the ten World Cups before the tour. Shortly before Christmas, the form got worse and the Austrians, who were already good, became the dominant jumping nation.

At the start in Oberstdorf, Kraft won ahead of two compatriots, Paschke came fourth. Kraft’s compatriot Tschofenig won the New Year’s competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Paschke lost his yellow World Cup jersey in ninth place. He went into the Bergisel competition in sixth place in the tour standings and more than 25 points behind the leader Tschofenig. There he again couldn’t keep up with the best.

Three Germans were eliminated in the first round

The example of Karl Geiger shows how difficult things are for Germans at the moment. The Oberstdorfer took sixth place as the best DSV eagle in the New Year’s competition. Now he was eliminated after the first round after a jump of 124 meters and a weak landing. Felix Hoffmann and Adrian Tittel also only completed one jump. “Very, very bitter, but you have to digest that too,” Hannawald told Geiger on ARD. The second best German was Andreas Wellinger in 13th place, Philipp Raimund landed in 15th place.

It continues this Sunday. The qualification for the final tour takes place in Bischofshofen at 4:30 p.m. (ZDF and Eurosport).