Simon Ammann is back in the tour competition

In a windy New Year’s jump, Simon Ammann made a striking comeback in the race for the Tour overall title. The Swiss won the competition on the Olympic Hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen after only one round and a nerve-wracking duel, like hardly ever seen before.

Ammann triumphed under the toughest conditions with a 131-meter jump and 142.1 points. “That was the situation I needed. I know you have to hold things together then. And that I can do it, I proved it today,” said Ammann with a beaming smile from ear to ear.

“It is hard to stay so intensely focused for so long. Always in the red zone. Oberstdorf wasn’t my hill, but I kept my self-confidence. I still have the goal of winning the tour. It’s a long way to Bischofshofen, but it’s possible,” Ammann said, looking back once more to 2007 when his compatriot Andreas Küttel won the New Year’s Jump. “Like Andi back then, today I had that little bit of magic in the jump that makes the difference.”

Karelin defies the wind and makes the Russians happy

Second place went sensationally to the Russian Pavel Karelin, who defied the conditions, flew to 132.5 meters and was rewarded with 138.3 points. For the 20-year-old Karelin it was the best result of his still young career. Third place went to another “veteran,” Adam Malysz, who despite the nasty winds pulled off his jump to 132 meters and 138 points. It was the 86th podium for the 33-year-old Pole.

Thomas Morgenstern landed after 124 meters and earned 125.6 points. He was left with only 14th place. Thus the dream of the Grand Slam is over, but in the Tour standings the Austrian maintained his lead over Ammann.

“Well, what’s going on inside me? That was a difficult competition, it lasted incredibly long. It was relatively difficult, that happens. Check it off and now we go on to Innsbruck. Getting angry now would be a waste of energy. I’m glad I landed safely down there, that was dangerous,” Morgenstern analyzed the emotional end of this event very calmly.

Kofler almost horribly fell

Everything started so well: under initially fantastic conditions the jumpers went over the take-off. But after about half of the athletes in the first round, a thermic wind arose that made the proceeding stubborn and lengthy despite the wind rule. In addition, side wind gusts repeatedly blew into the hill, which almost led to a gruesome fall of the reigning Tour winner Andreas Kofler.

“I would first like to congratulate Simon Ammann, it was an excellent jump. His performance should not be diminished. But many jumpers had to pay a price. The question is whether it was really necessary to stage so many athletes,” said ÖSV head coach Alexander Pointner.

“Andreas Kofler, who is currently really jumping exceptionally well and surely among the two best jumpers, or Hautamäki – such things should not happen. Eventually a line had to be drawn. Everyone here understood that it could also have become dangerous. Today the bow was strained,” said the 40-year-old on his birthday.

Ahonen and Koivuranta far up front

“Of course I understand that some are frustrated now, but this is an outdoor sport. We have a result and we can conduct a medal ceremony,” commented FIS Race Director Walter Hofer on the result.

If the competition in Garmisch-Partenkirchen marked the end of Kofler’s Tour dreams, other skiers posted top results. Anders Jacobsen finished fourth ahead of the old-timer Janne Ahonen and Anssi Koivuranta, who achieved a good result for the Finns. However, the Finns lost in the overall standings with Matti Hautamäki, who finished only 31st. “I don’t know what happened,” said the 29-year-old disappointedly.

In addition, Ville Larinto toppled after a monstrous jump of 140.5 meters and finished 32nd. It was the day’s longest flight, but the 20-year-old could not stand it. On landing, Larinto tipped to the side. According to a first diagnosis, nothing was broken or torn. But if there had been a second round, Larinto would not have started. With a pained expression he hobbled to his coaches.

Germans with a strong team result

For the Germans, the January 1 results looked very good: Martin Schmitt finished seventh for his best season result so far. Stephan Hocke finished 13th, Michael Uhrmann 15th, although he had also gone over the take-off in gusty winds. Pascal Bodmer finished 16th and Michael Neumayer 18th, placing also among the top 20.

Neumayer, in sixth place, is also the best DSV eagle in the Tour standings.

For the Poles, Kamil Stoch completed a good team result by finishing eighth. Bjoern-Einar Romoeren showed rising form in ninth. Martin Koch was the best Austrian in 10th. This shows that the wind had a substantial impact on the result.

Tour rankings: Morgenstern or Ammann

In the Tour standings Morgenstern leads comfortably with 415.2 points ahead of Ammann with 401.7. Hautamäki is already far back with 388.7. Małysz is fourth with 381.3, ahead of Koch with 380.2.

In the World Cup overall, Morgenstern still looks very good. With 723 points he has almost 200 points more than his nearest rival Kofler with 525. Third is Ammann with 461 points.

Source: www.vierschanzentournee.com