Multiple world champion Karl Geiger will miss the first ski jumping event at the Four Hills Tournament on home soil in Germany's Oberstdorf after finishing Sunday's large hill qualification round in 53rd. Only the top 50 advanced to the final round, which will open this season's Four Hills Tournament on Monday.
Multiple world champion Karl Geiger will miss the first ski jumping event at the Four Hills Tournament on home soil in Germany's Oberstdorf after finishing Sunday's large hill qualification round in 53rd.
Only the top 50 advanced to the final round, which will open this season's Four Hills Tournament on Monday.
Geiger was dropped from the German team early in December in the wake of poor results, but was brought back to the five-man squad for the traditional competition.
"That's a tough one to swallow, it's pretty bitter. You just have to accept it, there's no point in complaining. It leaves a sour taste in your mouth," Geiger told broadcaster ARD.
In the mixed zone, he added that his performance was "a complete disaster."
Geiger is a former ski flying world champion and has 12 medals from world championships and Olympics. They include five golds in world championship team and mixed team events.
Germany's main hopes rest on Philipp Raimund and Felix Hoffmann, who have four and three World Cup podiums respectively this season.
The top favourites are World Cup leader Domen Prevc of Slovenia and Japan's three-time Four Hills winner Ryoyu Kobayashi.
Prevc topped the standings in the qualification, followed by Raimund and World Cup title holder Daniel Tschofenig of Austria. Kobayashi was seventh, while Hoffmann was 12th.
Category: General Sports
