Hämmerle advanced in the round of 16 following a photo finish decision, in the quarter-finals he had to go into the snow following contact with the Czech Radek Hauser. “In the end I shouldn’t have left him so open, it’s also my fault somewhere,” said the Vorarlberger. “I was in the lead. I thought I had everything under control.” On the other hand, he was “shot down” for the third time this season. “But you have to leave the church in the village, I have the gold medal at home.”
Damage limitation for Hämmerle in the fight for his fourth overall World Cup win in a row was that rival Martin Nörl only made it into the “small final” and finished fifth. The German will now compete in Veysonnaz next week with a 45-point lead over Hämmerle. Dusek is 67 points behind and still in the running. Last year, the 25-year-old suffered a concussion at the Reiteralm World Cup. “To be on the podium this year following last year’s fall is perfect,” said Dusek. Third place went to the Swiss Kalle Koblet.