Kraft prevented a Slovenian triple victory because Timi Zajc and Anze Lanisek placed behind Jelar. The second best Austrian was Michael Hayböck from Upper Austria in eleventh place, Manuel Fettner ended up in 13th place, Ulrich Wohlmentioned was 19th. Daniel Tschofenig was also able to celebrate World Cup points in 23rd place. For Daniel Huber, a fall in the second round following jumping up from 189 meters was not a problem, he escaped with abrasions. In the end, he was left with a World Cup point as 30th.
He feels “very good,” said Kraft on ORF, “when you have one more win once more. It was an incredibly cool day, I kept three Slovenians in check,” said the 28-year-old from Pongau, who is a three-time former individual world champion. The second jump wasn’t quite perfect anymore, “but I think it was just the right thing. A little braver and sorted. I’m very satisfied, it was a mega day for me.” In the end it was even precision work, because his lead of 11.3 points as the half-time leader shrank to just 1.7 points. “I had to stretch myself to get to the green line, but thank God it worked out,” admitted Kraft following his sixth victory in the Ski Flying World Cup.
Austria’s currently best ski jumper, who is now fifth in the overall World Cup but has no chance of winning the crystal ball, only has Gregor Schlierenzauer ahead of him in the ÖSV victory record. “25 – an anniversary, I’ll spend a round there. I’ll never be first, I’m a bit too old for that,” says Kraft, who is humble nonetheless. “Incredible, I would never have dreamed of that when I started ski jumping: 25 times at the top, today once more hearing the anthem in front of spectators. I will enjoy it.”
After the first World Cup ski flying this season, Kraft now leads the special classification. Three more follow, one on Sunday once more in the Allgäu, then two next week at the season finale in Planica.
By the way, for the German Richard Freitag, who is only regarding two years his senior, his ski jumping career is over. The eight-time World Cup winner, who has won seven medals at the Ski Jumping and Ski Flying World Championships, said goodbye in front of his home crowd in Oberstdorf on Saturday.
