In Oberstdorf, the stars Kamil Stoch and Dawid Kubacki, who were so dominant in the past and so popular in their ski jumping-crazy homeland, continued to seek connection to the world’s best. Thurnbichler feels pressure.
Instead of having a say in winning the tour, the 34-year-old Tyrolean is currently having to explain failures. “It’s really difficult for the first time, I feel a lot of pressure from outside,” said Thurnbichler in the run-out of the Oberstdorf Arena. He tries to dance a bit through the season and get his protégés through in the best possible way. With Stoch, the best Pole is in 17th place following the opening competition, Kubacki and Piotr Zyla are in 27th and 28th place. The Poles are only seventh in the Nations Cup.
Little improvement in sight
To make matters worse, there is little improvement in sight. “In Poland, generational change has been overlooked,” explained Thurnbichler. Stoch and Zyla are 36 years old, Kubacki is also no longer the youngest at 33 years old. “We have been trying to take the first steps for a year. But these things take time,” said the former ÖSV jumper. “In truth, we would have to put more energy into the structure than into the World Cup.” Association President Adam Malysz, himself a Polish ski jumping legend, is currently still behind him. “He also sees the bigger picture. I have a contract until the 2026 Olympics and haven’t heard anything else yet.”
Thurnbichler recently separated from assistant coach Marc Nölke, saying it was the “hardest decision” in his coaching career. In any case, the German’s professional qualifications were not the reason for his dismissal. Thurnbichler is currently having a lot of conversations with his athletes. “It’s getting more and more difficult for Kamil. Also to believe that he can make it back onto the podium,” said the coach regarding the three-time tour winner.
Granerud is also in crisis
With Kubacki, the overall situation must be considered; with the Bergisel winner and tour runner-up in 2023 and tour winner in 2019/20, his own family has recently taken on an even more important role. After the birth of his second daughter in January, his wife Marta had to go to the hospital because of heart problems and fought for survival. “He didn’t always have 100 percent focus on ski jumping in the summer,” explained Thurnbichler and showed understanding. Kubacki’s regeneration was neglected despite the same training effort, which meant he had to repeatedly deal with minor injuries.
Another star in the scene is also currently desperate. Stunned and with a perplexed look, defending champion Halvor Egner Granerud accepted his fate on the current tour. 48th place in Oberstdorf was a low blow for the 27-year-old Norwegian and the farewell to any hopes of victory. “I’m speechless and a little surprised. I can’t explain it, it’s a terrible start,” said last year’s winner following his horror start in the Allgäu.
Last season, Granerud had constantly outpaced his competition, won the tour in a superior manner and, with twelve victories, won the big crystal ball for the overall World Cup. At the dress rehearsal in Engelberg before Christmas, Tyrolean head coach Alexander Stöckl’s protégé gained hope with a fourth place before he crashed badly in the first of eight jumps on the tour. “It’s really a shame,” Granerud said dejectedly.
