Domen Prevc wins qualifying competition, Felix Hoffmann injured

Before the final competition of the Four Hills Tournament, ski jumper Domen Prevc won the qualification in Bischofshofen. The 26-year-old Slovenian jumped 140 meters and won ahead of the Austrian Stephan Embacher and his compatriot Jan Hörl.

After victories in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen and second place in Innsbruck, the Slovenian Prevc can probably only be stopped by the weather or a disqualification. Before the last act of the Four Hills Tournament this Tuesday (4:30 p.m.) he leads with 41.4 points over second-placed Hörl. That’s the equivalent of around 23 meters.

Only once in the history of the tour did a jumper give up such a big lead. In 1971/72, the Japanese Yukio Kasaya left after victories on the first three ski jumps to prepare for the Olympic Games in his home town of Sapporo.

As the best German, Philipp Raimund landed in sixth place with a 135-meter jump in the qualification in freezing temperatures of minus five degrees. Felix Hoffmann, who is in fifth place in the tour ranking and is therefore the strongest of national coach Stefan Horngacher’s team, took eleventh place. “It was rather difficult,” said Hoffmann on ARD. He is around seven and a half meters behind third-placed Embacher.

He had missed a training jump. “My knee is pinching me a bit,” said Hoffmann. It is still unclear whether he will take a short break after the tour. “It shouldn’t be a problem for tomorrow,” said national coach Horngacher. “He’s in some pain, but he’s managing it well.”

The other three athletes from the German Ski Association also qualified for the competition. This wasn’t a given for the former guarantors of success Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger. Wellinger took 23rd place with a jump of 127.5 meters. Geiger only jumped 117.5 meters, came 44th and of course was not happy with that. “It was a really difficult day for me today,” said the 32-year-old, who has already become world champion five times in his career. Pius Paschke ended up in 25th place.

Who will jump against whom on Tuesday?

As usual, the ski jumpers will compete in knockout duels in Bischofshofen. An overview of the German participants:

• Philipp Raimund (6th in the qualification/Oberstdorf) against Felix Trunz (45/Switzerland)

• Felix Hoffmann (11/Suhl) versus Antti Aalto (40/Finland)

• Andreas Wellinger (23/Ruhpolding) against Rok Oblak (28/Slovenia)

• Pius Paschke (25/Kiefersfelden) versus Yukiya Sato (26/Japan)

• Karl Geiger (44/Oberstdorf) versus Halvor Egner Granerud (7/Norway)