Four Hills Tournament
Last chance “track milling machine”? Prevc before tour victory
The big tour finale takes place in Bischofshofen. Andreas Wellinger and Philipp Raimund talk about the designated overall winner.
Andreas Wellinger doesn’t believe in the great ski jumping miracle. The Olympic champion believes it is virtually impossible that Four Hills Tournament dominator Domen Prevc will give up his huge lead at the final in Bischofshofen.
“Domen’s skis would have to be run over by the track cutter or he would be disqualified,” said the 30-year-old. “Otherwise nothing will burn.” Teammate Philipp Raimund estimated the chance of Prevc not winning the Golden Eagle at “one percent”.
Prevc has already won two tournament competitions
Prevc has shaped the 74th edition of the tour since day one. The 26-year-old Slovenian won in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In Innsbruck he came second. His lead over the second-placed Austrian Jan Hörl in the overall ranking, who is just ahead of his compatriot Stephan Embacher, is the equivalent of around 23 meters. Prevc also won the qualification in Bischofshofen.
“The duel for second place or the day’s victory will be interesting,” said Wellinger. There hasn’t been a German winner at the end of the tour on the Paul-Außerleitner-Schanze since Sven Hannawald’s quadruple triumph in 2002.
In the tour ranking, Felix Hoffmann is in fifth place as the best jumper from national coach Stefan Horngacher’s team. However, the 28-year-old wasn’t that strong in qualifying and also has knee problems. It starts today at 4.30 p.m. (ARD and Eurosport).
dpa