Austria’s Adler just missed the jump to the podium at the team competition in Lahti on Saturday. Stefan Kraft, Gregor Schlierenzauer, Clemens Aigner and Michael Hayböck, who joined the team in comparison to the Olympic competition, only missed 8.1 points on the podium this time. In this victory, Germany celebrated its first victory ahead of Poland and Olympic champion Norway.
For a long time it looked like the hoped-for liberation for the ÖSV jumpers. After six jumps Stefan Kraft (126.5/130.5 m) and Gregor Schlierenzauer (120.5/124.5) came in second after a strong performance of the starter jumper Stefan Kraft (126.5/130.5 m) and Gregor Schlierenzauer (120.5/124.5). However, Aigner missed his second attempt and landed at only 113 meters.
“I’m sorry for the team. I’d rather have made a good jump. I have a timing problem. I’m always on my way too early, then I’m missing a few meters,”the 25-year-old showed himself in an interview with ORF radio.
Final jumper Michael Hayböck could not close the gap against the Norwegian Robert Johansson. Despite disappointment, however, the Austrians were more satisfied with the clearly reduced distance to the top. South Korea was still almost 100 points behind the bronze medal.
“I realize I’m making small mistakes. Without mistakes it can go far forward. That’s a good feeling,”Hayböck summed up the situation on behalf of himself and his colleagues. However, Daniel Andre Tande’s drop-out was also responsible for the shortfall. The Norwegian dropped to 101 meters in the first round.
The ÖSV-Adler never had anything to do with the victory. Karl Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler, Richard Freitag and Andreas Wellinger dominated the competition from the very beginning. Even after a failed Eisenbichler landing in the second round, the Germans’ leadership was not in danger.