The German jumpers are getting the right shape for the Olympics. They won the team competition in Willingen, the last event before the Olympic Games. Lead by Michael Uhrmann and Michael Neumayer, but also a strong Martin Schmitt, the Germans celebrated the first victory in a team competition since 2005, when they also won in Willingen. Only Pascal Bodmer still has some room for improvement. "We beat the Norwegians and that was very good for us. It was a nice feeling to hear the national anthem, it's been a while since the last time. Today's victory is worth nothing at the Olympics, but our shape is good. We go there to have a good time", said Uhrmann.

Norway finished second and Anders Jacobsen and Tom Hilde were their best athletes. Only Bjoern Einar Romoeren could not keep up with his teammates. The second string of the Austrian team, Junior World Champion Michael Hayboeck, Florian Schabereiter, David Zauner and Stefan Thurnbichler, came in third. "I'm very confident when it goes about Vancouver", said Jacobsen, who's in a great shape at the moment. He told Berkutschi that he wants to return home from Vancouver with a Gold medal.

100 000 Euro for Austria

But it was not only about the victory today - it was also about 100 000 Euro prize money. In the final event of the FIS Team Tour, Norway had to make up 40 points against Austria without their best jumpers. It was a close race until the end. It soon showed that Norway will be better today, but would it be enough for the 100 000 Euro?

No, because the final jumper Zauner showed a jump of 142 m, only Jacobsen jumped farther, and secured the money for the Austrians. "We can be proud of today's result. Austria has a great B-team", said former nordic combined skier Zauner.

Slovenia was fourth, the Finnish B-team was fifth. The French showed a strong competition and finished seventh.

Poland and Russia not in the final with the B-teams

Without their best jumpers, the teams from Poland and Russia had no chance to reach the final round of the best eight teams. Poland was only tenth, close behind the Italian team. Russia was only twelfth, behind Kazakhstan.

But, for example, Japan made it to the final round even with the B-team. Yuta Watase, 37-year-old Akira Higashi, Kazuya Yoshioka and Fumihisa Yumoto finished sixth. 

The next competition of the winter is a very important won. Because the events in Willingen were the last before the Olympics. Next Saturday the fight for Gold, Silver and Bronze on the normal hill will be on at the XXI. Olympic Winter Games.

Tags:willingen | fis-team-tour | team competition

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