Wolfgang Loitzl the best in the qualification
Wolfgang Loitzl of Austria won the qualification for the final competition of the 61st 4-Hills-Tournament. Two jumpers, Denis Kornilov and Manuel Fettner, fell after their jumps in the qualification.
Loitzl, who won in Bischofshofen in 2009, jumped on 132 m and won the qualification with 136.1 points. The Austrian started with a shorter inrun and got high compensation points.
"I'm very satisfied with the qualification and also with my jump in the second training round. The last few days in Garmisch and Innsbruck were not easy for me, but today I jumped very well in the qualification and it feels to good to win it and be back again. Now I'm looking forward to the competition tomorrow, maybe I can jump that well again and fight with the best. I'm looking forward to tomorrow because the audience will be great, hopefully the weather will be fine and I'll have a good competition", Loitzl summed up the qualification.
The second place went to Michael Neumayer. The German proved his good shape during this 4-Hills-Tournament with a jump on 137 m. He reached a total of 132.3 points.
The third place went to another local hero, Stefan Kraft. The Vice-Junior World Champion of the 2010/11 winter landed at 133 m (131.9 points). The strong performance of the national group of the hosts was completed by Lukas Mueller (28.), David Unterberger (36.) and Manuel Poppinger (38.).
Schlierenzauer and Bardal not among the best
Kamil Stoch of Poland was the best of the pre-qualified athletes. His 136 m and 135.5 points were the second best result of the round. Tom Hilde (135.5 m; 133.8 points) finished third. The second of the 4-Hills overall ranking, Anders Jacobsen, showed a jump on 130.5 m. He was sixth with 131.8 points. His main opponent, overall World Cup leader Gregor Schlierenzauer, landed at 122 m, reached 109.5 points and was only 37th. He was followed by Norwegian Anders Bardal (121 m; 109.4 points), who is also still fighting for a podium result at the 61st 4-Hills-Tournament.
Jacobsen and Schlierenzauer will jump against Slovenes in the K.O. round tomorrow. The opponent of the Norwegian will be Jaka Hvala, for whom it didn't go that well in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen. Gregor Schlierenzauer will be jumping against Robert Kranjec. The ski flying World Champion could improve his shape compared to the start of the season.
The most interesting duel in the K.O. round might be the one between Germany's Richard Freitag and Poland's Maciej Kot. Both presented themselves in a good shape in the last competition in Innsbruck. Dimitry Vassiliev shared the fifth place with Lauri Asikainen. The Russian and the Finn reached 126.4 points with jumps on 135 m (Vassiliev) and 129.5 m (Asikainen).
Kornilov and Fettner fell
Despite the good performance of Vassiliev it was not a good day for the team of Alexander Arefiev. Denis Kornilov fell after the landing and couldn't leave the outrun without help. The same fate was shared by Manuel Fettner. The Austrian fell after his jump on 123 m and was taken to the hospital for further medical examinations. An hour after the qualification the team doctors told that Kornilov suffered only bruises and no serious injuries. Manuel Fettner has lacerated-contused wound on his elbow and didn't suffer any fractures.
Start List for the competition (K.O. Duels)