. world ski news : Koch with longest jump in the qualification for 4-Hills-Tournament #4 at Bischofshofen - 05 January 2010 - 19:49
Martin Koch won the qualification for the final event of the 58th 4-Hills-Tournament. The athlete from Carinthia was the best on the "Paul-Ausserleitner-Hill in Bischofshofen with a jump of 140 m (141.5 points) ahead of the overall World Cup leader Gregor Schlierenzauer (138.2 points) who was followed by the surprisingly strong German Michael Uhrmann (138.0 points) to the third place.
"I hope that I can show two jumps like this tomorrow. I feel good and had great jumps. This is a hill for flyers, that suits me. But I have to focus a little more on my landing", said Koch, who loves the big hills in the World Cup.
"I have a good feeling. This was a good sign for me. I know what I'm capable of and my shape is good, but I can not show it all the time. My goal is to jump good", said Uhrmann, by far the best German.
Kofler is ready
4-Hills-Tournament leader Andreas Kofler (131 points) is prepared for the final and finished fourth in the qualification, ahead of last year's winner Wolfgang Loitzl and Bjoern Einar Romoeren. Janne Ahonen did not take part in the qualification and will have to jump against Koch in the competition.
Simon Ammann had a bad take-off, was only 27th and already looked ahead: "I have nothing to lose. I want to win the competition, that's what I wish for at the end of the Tournament," the Swiss told.
Focus is on the "Tyrolean Duel"
The focus lies on the Tyrolean duel for the overall victory: Kofler vs. Schlierenzauer. Kofler has a lead of 14.6 points ahead of Schlierenzauer, but that can be made up on the largest of the four hills. Two years ago Schlierenzauer had to experience how bad it can go. Under bad weather conditions with rain and tailwind he was only 42. and came in only 12th in the overall ranking.
Back then Ahonen, who still has an outside chance to win the Tournament, won. Kofler stood on the podium only once in Bischofshofen, in his first competition here in 2003. The 25-year-old was 32nd in Bischofshofen last year. "Quite satisfied. There is still room for improvement. A lot can still happen at the 4-Hills-Tournament", Kofler said, who sees himself prepared for the showdown. "I did not risk it all", he said.
Kuettel, Damjan and Vassiliev on the up
For World Champion Andreas Kuettel and Jernej Damjan it went better in Bischofshofen. "I am where I wanted to be again. One jump can change a lot", the Slovene, who was 13th in the qualification, right behind Kuettel, said. Also the shape of Dimitri Vassiliev is getting better. The Russian was eighth, following Thomas Morgenstern. The best Polish jumper, Adam Malysz, finished 14th.
For Ville Larinto this day brought another disappointing result. The Finn, who was on the podium three times last season, did not reach the final in three times and could not even qualify for the competition in Bischofshofen. It went better for his teammates Kalle Keituri, Matti Hautamaeki and Kai Kovaljeff. All of them will be able to take part in the final competition. But still Hautamaeki has to improve to not achieve is worst result at the 4-Hills-Tournament since 1998. Harri Olli was tenth and the best Finn.
Krysztof Mietus from Poland, Germany's Maximilian Mechler and Kenneth Gangnes also couldn't qualify. The only Austrian who did not make the cut is Andreas Strolz.
The 25 K.o.-Duels:
Hayboeck (AUT) - Bodmer (GER)
Ammann (SUI) - Kranjec (SLO)
Ljoekelsoey (NOR) - Innauer (AUT)
Wank (GER) - Neumayer (GER)
Keituri (FIN) - Meznar (SLO)
Janda (CZE) - Karelin (RUS)
Hlava (CZE) - Stoch (POL)
Kornilov (RUS) - Chedal (FRA)
Hautamaeki (FIN) - Ito (JPN)
Fettner (AUT) - Thurnbichler (AUT)
Müller (AUT) - Evensen (NOR)
Yumoto (JPN) - Malysz (POL)
Tochimoto (JPN) - Damjan (SLO)
Hula (POL) - Kuettel (SUI)
Eggenhofer (AUT) - Kasai (JPN)
Colloredo (ITA) - Olli (FIN)
Kim (KOR) - Jacobsen (NOR)
Schmitt (GER) - Vassiliev (RUS)
Hilde (NOR) - Morgenstern (AUT)
Cikl (CZE) - Romoeren (NOR)
Unterberger (AUT) - Loitzl (AUT)
Freitag (GER) - Kofler (AUT)
Kovaljeff (FIN) - Uhrmann (GER)
Morassi (ITA) - Schlierenzauer (AUT)
Ahonen (FIN) - Koch (AUT)