Paweł Wąsek remains the only Polish jumper who counts in the game for a high place in the Four Hills Tournament. In Oberstdorf, Germany, he was 10th. Jakub Wolny also took part in the second series, but he finished in the last 30th position. The rest will definitely make at least one jump less than the best in the tournament, so they have no chance of winning in the end. However, on New Year's Day in Garmisch-Partenkirchen they will fight for points for the World Cup. To win them, they must advance to the second series of the KO competition.
This is what the KO pairs look like in the Ga-Pa competition. Poles found each other
In Saturday's qualifications, Wąsek was the best among Poles. 130.5 m gave him 18th place. Piotr Żyła landed two meters further, but he placed lower – in 21st place. Aleksander Zniszczoł was two positions lower (131.5). Jakub Wolny, in turn, jumped 128 and finished the competition in 30th place. Dawid Kubacki, who failed to do the same in Oberstdorf, also qualified for Wednesday's competition in Ga-Pa. Unfortunately, there are still no great reasons for optimism, because the 123 m he achieved resulted in only 48th place. The winner was Austrian Jan Hoerl with a jump of 137.5 m.
The places taken in the qualifications in the Four Hills Tournament are of great importance. It is on their basis that the pairs in which the competitors compete in the first series are determined – the winner will be the 50th jumper, the second will be the 49th, the third will be the 48th, etc. So who will the Poles have to face?
On Wednesday, Paweł Wąsek will compete with 33rd-ranked Japanese Naoki Nakamura. There will also be a fratricidal fight. Piotr Żyła hit Jakub Wolny. Aleksander Zniszczoł will have German Felix Hoffmann as his rival. The most difficult challenge awaits Dawid Kubacki, who will face the third in the qualifications – Austrian Michael Hayboeck. Additionally, TCS leader Stefan Kraft will jump with Constantin Schmid, and qualification winner Jan Hoerl will jump with Felix Trunz.
Polish KO pairs in the competition in Ga-Pa:
- Paweł Wąsek – Naoki Nakamura
- Piotr Żyła – Jakub Wolny
- Aleksander Zniszczoł – Felix Hoffmann
- Dawid Kubacki – Michael Hayboeck