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Ryoyu Kobayashi showed why he is one of the favorites in Oberstdorf
Photo: PHILIPP GUELLAND / EPA
Ryoyu Kobayashi won the qualification for the opening competition of the 70th Four Hills Tournament in Oberstdorf, determined by the capricious weather.
In adverse conditions, the Japanese managed a jump to 129.0 meters, which was upgraded again by numerous wind points.
The tour winner of the 2018/2019 season prevailed over the German tour hope Karl Geiger (127.5 meters). Halvor Egner Granerud (126.5 meters) and Johann Andre Forfang (132.0 meters) from Norway shared third place with equal points. The second German top jumper, Markus Eisenbichler, landed like Forfang at the best distance of the day of 132.0 meters, but finished the qualification in sixth place because of the poor posture marks.
Unlike in previous years, there was no national group of the DSV at the start, the »second row« will be there again for the New Year's event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Of the seven jumpers that national coach Stefan Horngacher had nominated for the qualification, six made it into the competition on Wednesday (4.30 p.m., TV: ARD). Only Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger failed in 51st with 108.5 meters just under the top 50.
In addition to the six World Cup starters, Severin Freund jumped out with good performances in the second-class Continental Cup, with 126.0 meters, the former world champion and overall World Cup winner made it to ninth place and thus a respectable success.
Pius Paschke in 17th place, Constantin Schmid in 20th and Stephan Leyhe in 38th completed the German team result.
In constant rain and gusty winds, the qualification was interrupted for a short time after the first 15 jumpers before the competition could be brought to an end at a rapid pace.
These are the co-duels with German participation:
Constantin Schmid - Yukiya Sato (Japan)
Pius Paschke - Philipp Aschenwald (Austria)
Jakub Wolny (Poland) - Stephan Leyhe
Severin Freund - Roman Trofimow (Russia)
Markus Eisenbichler - Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes (Canada)
Karl Geiger - Viktor Polasek (Czech Republic)
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