SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP. It will not be long before Gregor Schlierenzauer will be on the podium in the World Cup again. In the qualification for the third competition of the FIS Team Tour in Klingenthal the Austrian showed a great jump on 143.5 m and won the clearly in the Vogtland-Arena.

Gregor Schlierenzauer (AUT), Klingenthal qualifications, photo: FIS

Second, but already twelve points behind, was Norwegian Johan Remen Evensen (139 m/ 137.0 points), who was followed by strong Japanese Daiki Ito as third. Ito jumped 140.5 m (136.2 points) with a longer inrun.

Freitag and Bodmer fight for a ticket to Oslo

With a view to the WSC in Oslo the situation in the German team isn't any clearer. Local hero Richard Freitag finished on a very good fourth place and showed a good performance just like Pascal Bodmer (6th). Michael Neumayer (29th) and Martin Schmitt (16th) have some room for improvement. Michael Uhrmann and Severin Freund will have their place on the team for Oslo.

The Finnish team still has bad luck with injuries. Anssi Koivuranta, who fell in the qualification in Willingen, could not take part in the qualification. He tried to jump in training, but after he felt some pain he returned to the hotel. So he will also not compete on Wednesday.

Happonen in great shape

Janne Happonen, who made a great comeback after a long break due to serious injuries in Willingen, proved his good shape and was fifth in Klingenthal.

Czech Roman Koudelka is also still jumping strong and came in tenth in the qualification. Robert Kranjec showed some improvement as 15th. After becoming father of his first son Anders Jacobsen returned to the World Cup in a good form and was 12th.

Ammann with record jump

Schlierenzauer already jumped one meter over the hill record with his 143.5 m but then Simon Ammann, as the best of the pre-qualified athletes, showed what he is capable of. Although he had to start from a lower inrun gate the Swiss showed an outstanding jump on 145 m. Ammann is ready for the competition!

Of the pre-qualified jumpers also Tom Hilde (140 m), Severin Freund (139 m), Adam Malysz (137.5 m) and Matti Hautamaeki (137 m) had good jumps. Thomas Morgenstern, Martin Koch and Andreas Kofler did not take part in the qualification. The competition will start on Wednesday at 6:00 pm CET.

FISskijumping.com
01.02.2011 19:20