More than 800 meters are Stefan Kraft, Jan Hörl and Daniel Tschofenig at this one Four Hills Tournament have so far sailed through the air. At eye level and at a respectful distance from the competition.
Before the Final in Bischofshofen The three Austrian high-flyers are separated by a paltry 1.3 points – or the equivalent of a few centimeters.
After three jumps, Jan Hörl is about the length of a ski jumping boot (33 centimeters) Behind the new leader Stefan Kraft, the Carinthian Daniel Tschofenig is in third place Backlog of 72 centimeters on.
The ÖSV coaches slid down the landing hill euphorically after the triple victory
You don’t have to be a prophet Tour winner from Austria for the first time since 2015 will come. It’s just a matter of which of the three distance hunters will manage to land on the top podium on Epiphany in Bischofshofen (4:30 p.m., live ORF1).
“I would love it if they could do it aequo,” says head coach Andreas Widhölzl with a wink.
Magic
Ski jumping fans will enjoy this Four Hills Tournament Eyewitnesses to a demonstration of forcesomething this sport has rarely experienced in this form.
The Austrian stars fly as if from another planet, the competition on Bergisel once again topped the gala performances in Oberstdorf and Garmisch with the emotional triple victory.
Stefan Kraft won on Bergisel for the first time
“There is nothing better than winning a competition at home,” said Stefan Kraft, who has experienced many holidays in his successful career.
But rarely has the Salzburger let himself out as much as after his triumph in Innsbruck, his personal place of longing. “This win is very special and is one of my top three moments. As a ski jumper you should have won at Bergisel once.“
Electrifying
Nowhere is it as loud and electrifying as in Witch cauldron in Innsbruckon no other ski jump do the ski jumpers get so close to the fans, nowhere can the winners put on such a show as on Bergisel, which with its opposite slope offers the heroes a perfect stage.
And there they were, jumping, cheering and celebrating side by side on Saturday, the three Austrian high-flyers, and soaking up the unique emotions.
“What’s going on here is disgusting, absolutely brilliant”said Tschofenig, who had to give up the leader’s jersey after a jump. “I’m proud of our team.” And Jan Hörl added: “The three of us all like each other. It will now be an exciting finale in Bischofshofen.”
Historical
This 73rd Four Hills Tournament has long since taken on a historic dimension: with eight out of nine possible podium places for Austria in the first three tournament competitions; with the first triple victory on Bergisel in half a century; with the prospect of the third ÖSV triple success in the overall ranking after 1974/’75 and 2011/’12.
“They are still going one step further,” says head coach Andreas Widhölzl, who is also destined for entry into the history books: he would be the first person to win the tour as a ski jumper and coach.
Under Widhölzl are Jan Hörl, Stefan Kraft and Daniel Tschofenig reached a new levelthe three push each other on and demonstrate a unity that has not always existed in the Austrian ski jumping team.
Who will win the race in Bischofshofen in the end? If you take into account the previous performances on the Paul Ausserleitnerschanze, then the Golden Eagle should be gaining strength. He already won in Bischofshofen last year (2024), Hörl was third once, Tschofenig was never better than tenth.
But as Coach Widhölzl says: “May the best win.”