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Garmisch-Partenkirchen (dpa) - The beginning has been made, now the successful German ski jumping duo wants to add to the Four Hills Tournament.
Oberstdorf winners Karl Geiger and Markus Eisenbichler are in excellent shape ahead of the second stop of the hill spectacle in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
Geiger is the hunted after his home triumph in Oberstdorf, and all eyes will be on him at the Great Olympic Hill.
Eisenbichler is in wait position as fifth.
Before the traditional New Year's competition, the qualification takes place on Thursday (2 p.m. / ARD and Eurosport).
"We are well positioned, we are looking forward," said Geiger.
Even on the rest day between the two German tour locations, the joy of his coup could still be seen.
"I can only shine like the sun now," said the Allgäu man in a video message in the best weather in front of a wonderful mountain backdrop and smiled.
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Trip to Garmisch, corona test and strength training - that was the program for the German jumpers before the next flight show.
"I always really like Garmisch," said Eisenbichler, giving the German fans hope: "The two jumps are always very good for us - Oberstdorf and Garmisch."
After a weak jump and a fabulous flight to the start of the tour, the 29-year-old now wants to constantly return to his best level - and at the same time support his buddy and roommate in non-Corona times: said "Eisei" with reference to Geiger.
There was also recognition from the Austrian team.
"The Karle is in a very good shape and a competition animal," said overall World Cup winner Stefan Kraft.
The German jumpers behind Geiger and Eisenbichler have great potential for improvement.
Severin Freund was the only one to get World Cup points in 25th place, for the nine other Germans the competition in Oberstdorf was over after the first round.
"I think the boys were a bit too tense," said national coach Stefan Horngacher.
"They wanted too much, and at some point it went too far - and it broke."
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Horngacher wants to have a lot of one-on-one discussions before going back to the hill in Garmisch.
"We have to work on it so that they can regain their looseness and just jump on it," said the head coach from Tyrol.
Andreas Wellinger, Richard Freitag & Co. can find out how this works from Geiger or Eisenbichler.
Should one of the two friends be at the top of the winners' podium in Garmisch, that would not be a bad omen: 19 years ago, Sven Hannawald celebrated the last German victory in jumping on January 1st after his opening success in Oberstdorf.
Five days later, he became the Four Hills Tournament winner.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201230-99-857398 / 2
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