Germany wants the Four Trampolines Tournament. Their jumpers did not fail at home and Andreas Wellinger had two magical days in Oberstdorf to win and be the first leader of the Tour. He left no room for doubt and after a spectacular first flight he knew how to manage from 10 so as not to hesitate with little wind in the second race. Nor the perfection of Ryoyu Kobayashi nor the way of Stefan Kraft -companions on the podium- coughed at the Bavarian. Wellinger wins and is the first candidate for ‘Golden Eagle’.A
Wellinger, in action.
The Tour, as it almost always started with drama. There are eight jumps and each failure is devastating, and the one who dominated with an iron fist in 2022-23, Halvor Egner Granerud, knows that better than ever. But the Norwegian failed and everything fell apart. He made a terrible jump of 105.5 meters in his duel with the Italian Bresadola and was eliminated. Impossible to overcome and handing over his crown. “I felt terrible. It was a good opportunity to change the dynamic, but I couldn’t,” he said. A leap, a drama for which he had won in three events last year. Without a champion the trophy remains vacant.
I felt terrible, it was a good opportunity and I couldn’t…
And there were no surprises among those who began to oppose from the first flight. Kobayashi impressed from the start, Kraft – the top favorite – delivered, the local Karl Geiger stayed close and the first true declaration of intentions was made by Andreas Wellinger. He had won the qualification and nailed the first jump. Up to 139.5 meters, perfect from the start due to fluidity and control. His finger up at the end led to leaving his pursuers almost five points behind.
Granerud, an el salto.
The wind conditions… and not Wellinger
I had a lot of ground covered and only the clasp of the second sleeve was missing. That in ski jumping everything is equivalent. It is a sport so conditioned by the weather that it can unevent any battle. And in Obersdorf the wind made its appearance. He changed for the top 10 of the first and threw to a Lovro Kos who entered the top-5. Many fewer Wellingers remained along the way.
Because the of Traunstein knew how to defend himself. Before, his teammate Karl Geiger found himself with no option after losing pressure and although Kraft’s favoritism saved the vote, he saw how the distance from him was insufficient (125 meters). In addition, Kobayashi once again put up a fight with a spectacular 129. Wellinger had to make a move.
Wellinger celebra.
He did it from a perfect start, good landing and 128 meters away. For 309, 3 points, 3.6 more than Kobayashi and almost 10 more than Kraft. Winner in Oberstdorf, Germany beats the rest in the first race and Wellinger wins his sixth race in his career. He is a favorite after his recital in the Bavarian region. The first candidate for Golden Eagle.
