Polish fans after the good ones jumping Paweł Wąska and Aleksandra Zniszczoła in training and in the mixed competition had high hopes for their good positions in the first World Cup competition this season. Wąsek was the best Pole in the qualifications, in which he took 16th place after a jump of 131.5 meters.
Paweł Wąsek advanced by as many as eight positions
However, the first series of Saturday's competition was very disappointing for the Polish team fans. Paweł Wąsek was the best at it. He jumped 128.5 meters, which gave him only 22nd place. Apart from him, only two Poles advanced to the second series: Aleksander Zniszczoł from 25th place (121.5 meters) and David Kubacki from 29th position (123 meters).
Unfortunately, three-time Olympic champion Kamil Stoch failed to advance and took only 35th place after a jump of 122 meters.
– I struggled with the tension of my whole body and I also felt a bit lacking in looseness and freedom. This was the main problem that prevented me from jumping well. This jump was the best of all the ones I did here, but there are still elements that need trust. I have to be free – said Kamil Stoch for Eurosport.
The worst performance was achieved by Maciej Kot, who barely advanced to the competition because he took penultimate, 49th place in the qualifications. Now Kot, in very difficult conditions (he had almost 30 points added), jumped only 114 meters and was only 42nd.
In the second series, Polish fans finally had reasons to be happy. All three of our jumpers improved their positions. Dawid Kubacki jumped five meters further than in the first series – 128 meters and took 26th place. Aleksander Zniszczoł improved by as much as 10 meters! – because he jumped 131.5 meters and was classified in 23rd position. Paweł Wąsek could also have been happy, he landed at 132 meters and shook his head with satisfaction. The Pole improved by eight positions and was 14th.
Saturday's competition was exciting. After the first series, Stefan Kraft was leading, but he was ahead of his compatriot Tschofenig by 1.2 points, and the Norwegians Granerud and Sundal by 2.1 points. The fifth, 22-year-old Austrian Maximilian Ortner, was only 2.7 points behind Kraft. In the second series, 34-year-old German Pius Paschke performed brilliantly, jumping as much as 138.5 meters, and from sixth place to first place! He was ahead of Tschofenig by 7.9 points and Ortner by 10 points. Kraft ultimately finished fourth.
The second competition will take place on Sunday. Qualifying will start at 2.45 p.m., and the competition at 16. Live coverage on Sport.pl and in the Sport.pl LIVE application.
The best “10” of the competition in Lillehammer:
- Pius Paschke (Germany) – 131.5 and 138.5
- Daniel Tschofenig (Austria) – 132.5 and 132.5,
- Maximilian Ortner (Austria) – 132 and 131.5,
- Stefan Kraft (Austria) – 133 and 130,
- Jan Hoerl (Austria) – 128.5 and 130,
- Anze Lanisek (Slovenia) – 130 and 127,
- Kristoffer Eriksen Sundal (Norway) – 134.5 and 126.5,
- Gregor Deschwanden (Switzerland) – 127 and 125,
- Johann Andre Forfang (Norway) – 123.5 and 133,
- Tate Frantz (USA) – 135.5 and 124.5.
…14. Paweł Wąsek – 128.5 and 132,
….23. Aleksander Zniszczoł – 121.5 and 131.5
…26. Dawid Kubacki – 123 and 128.
…35. Kamil Stoch – 122,
…42. Maciej Kot – 114.