Favorite Karl Geiger at the Four Hills Tournament 2021/2022 – Sports news about ice hockey, winter sports and more
Five times as much prize money: the Four Hills Tournament organizers have massively increased the incentive to win the traditional event. The most important facts.
12/26/2021 | Status: 9:19 a.m.
Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck, Bischofshofen. Ten days, eight days of competition, four hills, two countries. The Four Hills Tournament for ski jumpers can also look forward to a lot of excitement at the 70th edition. Do the Germans quit the flute that has been dying for 20 years since Sven Hannawald? Are the Poles suddenly reappearing around Kamil Stoch? And: why are only men always jumping? The most important questions and answers before the anniversary:
Who are the favorites for the title at the Four Hills Tournament?
Karl Geiger comes to the first highlight of the season in the yellow jersey of the World Cup leader. The Oberstdorfer is not only second in the past touring, but also the best ski jumper of the past Olympic winter. His toughest opponent is likely to be the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi, who has already missed several competitions because of a corona quarantine and is still runner-up overall. The Norwegians around Halvor Egner Granerud and the Austrians around world champion Stefan Kraft, who is particularly good at the start in Oberstdorf, can also be trusted. The Poles around defending champion Kamil Stoch disappointed last season. (The most important thing about Four Hills Tournament you can find out here.)
Which other promising Germans are there in the Four Hills Tournament?
Violinist goes on tour as number one, that much is clear. His buddy and roommate Markus Eisenbichler has already achieved top results this season, but recently weakened at the dress rehearsal in Engelberg. Andreas Wellinger also wants to shine in the spotlight again after difficult years in sport. Severin Freund, who won the jumping in Oberstdorf in 2015, will be used for the first time this winter.
Four Hills Tournament 2021/2022: Are spectators allowed in the arenas?
No. The exclusion had long been clear for the two German stations in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. For Austria it was decided on December 23rd. Initially, the organizers had planned with 4000 people in Innsbruck and 3500 people in Bischofshofen. The reason for the short-term cancellation of the audience is the Omikron variant, as announced by the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV).
What does the winner of the Four Hills Tournament get?
Significantly more than ever before. The tour winner will receive around 100,000 Swiss francs (around 96,000 euros), five times as much as before when 20,000 Swiss francs were distributed. If a ski jumper manages to win all four qualifications and all four jumps, more than 150,000 francs in prize money is possible. On top of that there is of course the prestigious golden eagle. (You can read the most important facts about Karl Geiger here.)
When is there a tour for women?
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The organizers are working flat out – they say. But so far there is no fixed time or detailed planning for the start of the women’s tour. The ski jumpers are getting impatient. “A lot has always been said, but too little has been done,” said Selina on Friday. After all, there will be a New Year’s competition for the first time this winter. However, it does not take place on the large Olympic hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, but on a normal hill in Ljubno, Slovenia.
Where can you see the jumps of the Four Hills Tournament?
ARD and ZDF take turns in the broadcast. The ARD shows the jumps in Oberstdorf and Bischofshofen and relies on expert Sven Hannawald, who 20 years ago was the first athlete to win all four competitions in succession. The ZDF shows the jumps in Garmisch and Innsbruck. Eurosport traditionally shows all four competitions. The rest days are this time on December 30th and January 2nd. Unlike usual, the jumpers do not leave Bischofshofen this time after the final of the tour, but still have a World Cup weekend on them.
(Authors: Patrick Reichardt and Thomas Eßer)