One day after his third place in Germany, the Salzburger impressed with flights of 224 and 217 meters and celebrated his tenth win of the season. In the overall World Cup, the 30-year-old extended his lead to 269 points over the Japanese Ryoyu Kobayashi, who had to settle for third place after leading at halftime. The Slovenian Peter Prevc came second.
With his triumph, Kraft surpassed the two Poles Adam Malysz and Kamil Stoch in the all-time best list; the Pongauer is now the only third behind World Cup record winner Gregor Schlierenzauer (53) and the Finn Matti Nykänen (46). “This is something very special. I always find it annoying that I’ve been at the top so many times and been able to enjoy the anthem. It’s incredibly nice that it works so well for such a long time,” said Kraft after his 113th. Overjoyed on the podium.
“Glad I made it there”
The victory was wonderful and was good after the start in Oberstdorf with places 45 and 36 in training. “I’m incredibly happy that I made it there. It was a very exciting weekend, it took a lot of energy,” emphasized Kraft, who triumphed for the ninth time in the World Cup on a flying hill and for the fourth time in flying in Oberstdorf. The consistent performance over many years would even surprise him. “It’s nice to move up all the lists. But the most important thing today is that the risk has been rewarded.”
At the break, Kraft was second, 4.6 points behind Kobayashi, but in the end the red-white-red high-flyer was 11.4 points ahead of the Four Hills Tournament winner. Prevc were 3.3 points short of victory. In the Ski Flying World Cup, Kraft, who was crowned world champion at the Kulm at the end of January, is in the lead with Prevc. The 31-year-old Slovenian, who also came second on Saturday, will end his career after the season finale on his home ski jump in Planica. His compatriot Timi Zajc is ten points behind in four outstanding flying competitions.
Hayböck came eighth
Manuel Fettner (218/229.5) came fifth behind Saturday winner Zajc and directly in front of Daniel Huber (230/211), who impressed in the qualification with 240 meters. Michael Hayböck (215/227.5) was also happy with an eighth place on the Heini-Klopfer ski jump after his fourth place the day before. Daniel Tschofenig (212/218) rounded off another strong ÖSV team result in 15th place. Bergisel winner Jan Hörl was disqualified after a strong jump in the first round due to the air permeability in his suit.
Next week the ski jumpers will be heading to the World Cup competitions in Scandinavia. First there are three jumps on the program from Friday, including a team competition, in Lahti/Finland, followed by the Raw Air in Norway (Oslo, Trondheim, ski flying in Vikersund).