Andreas Wellinger has known the location of the desired triumph since his school days. At that time, the young Bavarian drove from Berchtesgaden to Bischofshofen to hone his technique and become a better ski jumper.
This time Wellinger is competing on the Paul-Außerleitner-Schanze in Pongau to crown his career in a final duel with the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi and to redeem Sport-Germany from being without a title at the Four Hills Tournament after 22 years of waiting.
“I already know what it’s about,” indicated Wellinger, who usually only wants to talk about his jumps and not about the historic opportunity. It’s about whether he can follow Sven Hannawald, who was the last German to win the overall tour ranking in 2002. The showdown in Bischofshofen this Saturday (4.30 p.m./ARD and Eurosport) offers excitement like no other in a long time.
However, the strength of Wellinger’s rivals became apparent in the qualification. While Kobayashi won confidently with 138 meters, the German was not satisfied with his jump and ninth place. “I completely passed the jump table. I was 1.15 meters late. Maybe go to Ikea and get a slightly longer table tomorrow,” said Wellinger and laughed. He commented critically: “That was a bit wooden, but the decision will be made tomorrow.”
“Hamming out the front”
Even though Kobayashi goes into the race as the clear favorite after three second places and strong qualifying with a 4.8 point lead, Wellinger remains hopeful – and aggressive. “I’m going to put the pedal to the metal, hammer the thing out with confidence and then stay in the air for as long as possible, land cleanly and then there will be a list of results where you’ll see from the look on my face whether I’m happy with it or not,” said the 28-year-old.
While his rival from Japan has already won the Golden Eagle twice, for Wellinger it would be the highlight of his sporting career to date. The lavish winner’s check of 100,000 Swiss francs (around 107,000 euros) would probably be a minor matter given the enormous prestige value and sporting significance. In contrast to his 2018 Olympic victory in South Korea, this time there would be thousands of spectators. The backdrop in Pyeongchang back then was unworthy of a sporting coronation.
No joker in the German team
But Wellinger faces the biggest possible opponent on the huge hill: Kobayashi, who is once again in top form just in time for the tour. “He is a Grand Slam winner, he can do all the jumps. He can also do Bischofshofen,” said former national coach Werner Schuster to the “Allgäuer Zeitung” and the “Heilbronner Stimme” with a view to Kobayashi’s quadruple victory in 2018/19. Wellinger “chose a damn tough opponent. There is no tougher bone than Kobayashi,” added Schuster. Top favorite Stefan Kraft from Austria is tipping Kobayashi to be the winner.
Since Hannawald, six different German athletes have made it onto the overall podium: Michael Neumayer, Severin Freund, Wellinger, Markus Eisenbichler, Stephan Leyhe and Karl Geiger. But no one is at the top anymore. If that changes on Saturday, national coach Stefan Horngacher’s successful term in office would also reach a high point.
However, the special opportunity should not change the approach. “There is no joker. Everything stays the same. He just has to jump well, land well, go down quickly and then everything is possible,” said Horngacher before the final.
Wellinger satisfied with hunter role
After his opening victory in Oberstdorf, Wellinger was the hunted at stations two and three. Now he is the hunter again and has to catch up by the equivalent of 2.67 meters. “I’m definitely happy that I’m in the starting position, that I can be the hunter, and then Bischofshofen is a ski jump that I really like,” said the Ruhpoldinger, who is much faster in Bischofshofen from his home country than in Oberstdorf or Garmisch.
Nobody is worried about the Olympic champion’s nerves. So far, Wellinger has remained flawless in the six jumps on tour. “He doesn’t make any big mistakes. He keeps himself to himself, can concentrate well, completes the jumps well – even in difficult conditions,” said Horngacher about his current best protégé. Before the tour, the German team was expected to have a three-man lead: Wellinger, Geiger and Pius Paschke. There is only one left before the finale.
