A very strong Richard Freitag led the German ski jumpers to the podium at the last team competition of the World Cup winter. In ski flying in Planica, the DSV eagles were second only to the once again outstanding Norwegians. In the two previous team flies at the World Championships in Oberstdorf and the week before in Vikersund, Germany only finished fourth.
The Norwegians, who have been unbeaten in team flying for more than three years, prevailed safely with 1620.2 points ahead of the DSV team (1482.9), which was ultimately 114 m behind. Slovenia (1475.5) came third, followed by Poland (1470.5).
“That’s fantastic, we are the best of the rest,” said national coach Werner Schuster on ZDF television: “The Norwegians were unbeatable, they are too broadly positioned. But second place thanks to the outstanding flights of Richard and Markus Eisenbichler is very good for us”.
Friday, who had finished the day before in sixth place in the overall World Cup, increased his personal best by six and a half metres to 243.0 metres in the first run and improved by 234.0 metres in the second. On Saturday only Poland’s top star Kamil Stoch (248.5+244.5) and world champion Daniel Andre Tande (Norway/243.5) flew further than Friday.
Olympic champion Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding), whom Schuster trusted despite his poor form, showed his best flights in Planica with 212.5 and 219.5 meters. The German record holder Markus Eisenbichler (Siegsdorf), who had just avoided a fall in the completely crashed test jump, came in at a strong 235.0 and 234.0 metres. Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) jumped solidly with two 214.5 m.