Led by Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding) and overall World Cup runner-up Richard Freitag (Aue), six Germans qualified for the ski jump in Vikersund, Norway. Wellinger came 22nd with 212.0 m and 165.3 points, Friday reached sixth place with 215.0 m and 179.0 points. Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf) was the fourth best jumper of the DSV with 225.5 m (187.4).
Once again Olympic champion Kamil Stoch, who won the qualification, presented himself strong. The Pole flew to 242.0 m (207.1) and thus extended his lead in the overall standings of the “Raw Air Tour”. Karl Geiger from Oberstdorf (210.0 m/172.7) also made it into the Top 40 in twelfth place and Stephan Leyhe from Willingen (214.0/170.7) in 15th place. Andreas Wank (Hinterzarten) and David Siegel (Baiersbronn) retired.
On Saturday the team competition is scheduled in Vikersund, on Sunday the “Raw Air Tour” ends with individual jumping on the “Monsterbakken”.
The “Raw Air”-Tour takes place for the second time. Whoever collects the most points, including the qualification in 16 jumps, receives a bonus of 60,000 euros. Last year Wellinger had led at Vikersund before the last jump, but then fell behind winner Stefan Kraft (Austria) and Stoch. No German has a realistic chance of winning this year.