Four Hills Tournament
Two German ski jumpers as hunters: the tour favorites
The Slovenian Domen Prevc is the top favorite for the Four Hills Tournament. Two Germans are in the role of pursuer. Or will it be the touring expert from Japan again?
Who will win the 74th Four Hills Tournament? The big spectacle for ski jumpers begins with the qualification on Sunday in Oberstdorf. And although Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger are in crisis, national coach Stefan Horngacher’s team is by no means without a chance. Two German jumpers recently attracted attention. But the big favorite is someone else. These are the most promising contenders for victory:
The Slovenian has been in excellent shape recently. Prevc won five of the last six World Cup competitions and came second once. He has been in the World Cup for a long time and has shown his class many times. A series of successes like this season is also new for the current leader in the overall World Cup.
“He’s a bit of a crazy bird,” said former top German jumper and Eurosport expert Markus Eisenbichler, describing the 26-year-old. Prevc used to “live a bit in his own world”. Now he has matured. “He has a plan, he has a system. Even a bad jump doesn’t bother him,” said Eisenbichler. “He’s just grown up a little bit and sees everything a little differently.”
The Japanese won the tour dress rehearsal in Engelberg, Switzerland on Sunday and is Prevc’s first pursuer in the overall ranking. So Kobayashi is also in strong form. He also knows how to win the tour. The 29-year-old has already won the event three times. He last achieved this in the 2023/24 season.
Raimund has impressed so far this winter with great stability at a high level. In the past six World Cups, the 25-year-old has finished second once, third twice, fourth twice and tenth once. “The top favorites are Ryoyu and Domen,” said former jumper Martin Schmitt in a Eurosport media round. “I definitely see Philipp behind that.”
The native Swabian has already shown his talent in recent years. But he now appears more balanced and less susceptible to fluctuations in form. Raimund is still waiting for his first individual victory in the World Cup. Maybe it will work in Oberstdorf.
The 28-year-old has been jumping the season of his life so far and is also one of the hunters. The Thuringian underlined his strong condition with second and third place at the last two World Cups before Christmas in Engelberg. “He also has the potential to win a competition,” said Schmitt. “And anyone who has the potential to win a competition can also win the tour. He is also in the extended circle of favorites. But you shouldn’t strap your backpack on him.”
The Slovenian started the season strongly and won two competitions in November. Recently, however, the 29-year-old had difficulties. Places 14, 9, 25 and 16 don’t sound like tour favorites. Lanisek has shown many times in his career what he is capable of and that he can fight his way out of a slump. He is in third place in the overall World Cup.
And what about the Austrians?
Last winter Austria dominated the World Cup. Three jumpers from coach Andreas Widhölzl’s team were at the top in the final rankings. Daniel Tschofenig also won the Four Hills Tournament. This year, however, things are not going well for him and his established teammates. But you shouldn’t write off the Austrians. Eisenbichler has Stefan Kraft in particular on his list. “He has a jump that always works. Whether it’s windy or not. He doesn’t care.”
dpa
