Ryoyu Kobayashi is still the measure of all things at the 70th Four Hills Tournament and is aiming for the historic double – but the Japanese walks a fine line in Innsbruck.
“That was a very risky jump,” said expert Martin Schmitt, analyzing the Japanese man’s sentence on 126.5 meters for the qualifying win at Bergisel for Eurosport.de: “He is already extremely far ahead before the jump and the last print almost goes a little over the ball of the foot. The ski does not immediately have a flow.”
For Werner Schuster, Kobayashi can currently control this risk well.
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“He’s full of self-confidence, the limit feels ‘normal’ to him,” said the ex-national coach, who advises Japanese coaches to keep their feet still: “He can’t help it. He’s mastered the limit, that’s how he is clear in your head. You just have to instinctively let him jump. “
Schmitt and Schuster explain: Kobayashi jumps at the stop
Four Hills Tournament: Ryoyu Kobayashi on historic double course
Kobayashi had previously won the qualification and jumping in Oberstdorf as well as the jumping in Garmisch-Partenkirchen – in total now makes four out of five possible first places in the tour. The Japanese has also won four of the last five World Cups.
The 25-year-old might become the first ski jumper in history to win all four competitions of the Four Hills Tournament for the second time. Kobayashi had already achieved this in 2018/19 – as did his predecessors Sven Hannawald (2001/02) and Kamil Stoch (2017/18).
Kobayashi’s qualification win is “worth twice as much because he was under difficult conditions,” Schuster also points out. Only Markus Eisenbichler (8th) and Anze Lanisek (9th) in the top ten had worse wind conditions than the Japanese.
The high-flyer strikes once more: Kobayashi claws a qualifying victory
Innsbruck qualification: Markus Eisenbichler makes the old mistake
Then Eisenbichler and Karl Geiger (10th in qualification) want to jump for the win once more – which Schmitt and Schuster trust them to do. Eisenbichler showed a jump on “a decent level”, said Schmitt regarding Eisenbichler’s attempt on 119.0 meters.
However, he was not flawless. “He’s making his old mistake: He was clearly too late, the left ski went straight out once more,” analyzed Schuster: “But he knows what to do on this hill.”
Despite mistakes: Eisenbichler and Geiger jump into the top ten
Werner Schuster: Karl Geiger has a chance of a podium
In the first training round, Eisenbichler had indicated with a more run-up and better wind conditions with 139 meters, what he is able to achieve on the Bergisel, where he won two world championship titles in 2019.
“His jump in training indicates that his potential is still incredibly high,” said Schuster, who is therefore certain: “He can jump for the day’s victory once more.”
With Karl Geiger, the ex-national coach has meanwhile recognized slight improvements, but also a small step backwards. “He improved the flight, but didn’t hit the jump,” said Schuster: “He flies much more loosely, less canted. If he can manage it, he is also a candidate for the podium.”
Praise for outsider Lovro Kos
“It’s fascinating how well the young man jumps,” said Schuster, praising the 22-year-old, who was only on the podium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in his 14th World Cup competition (3rd).
“He jumps so carefree,” added Schuster: “Everyone is talking regarding Kobayashi, Lindvik, Eisenbichler, Geiger – and he can continue to do his thing. He enjoys it and you can see that every time you jump.”
Next strong qualification: Freund flies into the top six on the Bergisel
Is Norway striking back?
Lovro’s process is “super symmetrical, he has an incredible security in it”. The only problem in Innsbruck was the landing – otherwise Kos would have ended up further ahead than fifth.
So the field for the competition is set – then the Norwegians want to attack once more.
Qualification in Innsbruck: That’s what Freund, Eisenbichler, Geiger and Kobayashi say
In the qualification, the Oberstdorf third Robert Johansson landed as the best “Viking” only in eleventh place (122.0 m), the tour second and Innsbruck winner of 2020 Marius Lindvik (14/117.5 m) and the overall World Cup winner Halvor Egner Granerud (22/116.0 m) disappointed.
But Schuster also expects more from the exceptional German jumpers Eisenbichler and Geiger. Because: “Markus and Karl love the attacking position.” You just have to use them …
Eurosport shows all the jumps of the Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck and Bischofshofen including the qualification LIVE on free TV. Werner Schuster comments with Gerhard Leinauer, Martin Schmitt analyzes with Birgit Nössing in the studio. All jumping LIVE is also available at Eurosport with Joyn +!
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