It sounds a bit presumptuous to say that Stefan Kraft has been a bit unlucky with wind lately, following all, as we all know, the Salzburg native won the first four World Cup competitions of the season. But what happens when the 30-year-old’s current top form is joined by a little bit of momentum was seen in yesterday’s second round in Engelberg, when the fourth-place finisher sailed to his 35th career victory with the day’s highest distance of 142 meters. “I noticed following just 50 meters that it was going there. Everything was just right,” said Kraft, who claimed the top podium once more following three recent German victories.
Next to him – like three weeks ago in Kuusamo – was his teammate Jan Hörl, who was in the lead following the first round and 141 meters. Klingenthal winner Karl Geiger (D) ultimately came third.
21 out of 24 podium places
The last World Cup competition before the Four Hills Tournament starting on December 29th in Oberstdorf mightn’t have gone better for the red-white-red eagles. But expectations are not only high in the Austrian camp, apart from Kraft, Geiger (2) and Pius Paschke, who surprisingly celebrated his first World Cup success on Saturday in Engelberg at the age of 33, were the only Germans who had laughed off the top spot on the podium this season. Oppressive: Only three of the 24 podium places this season did not go to Austrian or German jumpers.
The tour, which was created along the lines of the Austrian-German rivalry, can be happy. “We did good for the tour. I hope that the stadiums will be passed over,” said Kraft, the last Austrian overall winner so far (2015). There is a question mark behind his outstanding form: his back problems have recently gotten worse. “This has to go away as quickly as possible so that I can ski jump freely in my head,” said Kraft.
Michael Hayböck, who came 17th on Sunday following missing a jump, didn’t want to overestimate his roommate’s physical problems: “As soon as he puts his stuff on at the top of the jump, the pain disappears from him.” The Kirchberg-Theninger will be in the six-man ÖSV squad for the tour, as head coach Andreas Widhölzl confirmed. In addition to Kraft, Hörl, Daniel Tschofenig and Manuel Fettner, there is also Clemens Aigner, who recommended himself for the Continental Cup.
Author
Reinhold Pühringer
Sports editor
Reinhold Pühringer
