Experienced Pius Paschke caused a surprise at the turbulent start of the ski jumping World Cup in Lillehammer and celebrated his second career victory. In a turbulent wind jump, the 34-year-old from Kiefersfelden prevailed ahead of the Austrians Daniel Tschofenig and Maximilian Ortner. Paschke was in sixth place after the first round with 131.5 meters and then showed a dream jump of 138.5 meters in the final. With 317.1 points he was well ahead of Tschofenig (309.2) and Ortner (307.1). Austria’s top star Stefan Kraft, who had led at half time, fell back to fourth place.
The other Germans had a mixed start. After a botched first round, top jumper Andreas Wellinger (Ruhpolding) fought his way up from 29th to 12th place in the final with 136.0 meters and thus averted a false start.Karl Geiger (Oberstdorf) was unlucky in the second round with the huge tailwind at the end had to settle for 17th place. In his first World Cup competition since March 2023, Markus Eisenbichler came in 24th place; the former world champion still has a long way to go to his old strength.
Philipp Raimund (Oberstdorf) came 22nd, Stephan Leyhe (Willingen) came 28th. Youngster Adrian Tittel came 29th on his World Cup debut and collected his first points. Thanks to his third place at the Junior World Championships, the 20-year-old from Aue can compete with the “big ones”.
With all seven jumpers who started in the points, the German team appeared to be very well positioned, at least across the board. At the end of the first World Cup weekend, Horngacher’s men should move a little further forward behind Paschke in the second individual on Sunday (4.15 p.m.), followed by the women’s turn (12.30 p.m./ARD and Eurosport).
#Pius #Paschke #wins #Ski #Jumping #World #Cup #Lillehammer
