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Lahti (dpa) - The German ski jumpers convinced at the Team World Cup in Lahti, Finland and made it onto the podium.
Karl Geiger, Markus Eisenbichler, Pius Paschke and Martin Hamann only had to admit defeat to the victorious Norwegians and Poles.
Compared to the very disappointing sixth place in Poland the previous week, the team of national coach Stefan Horngacher was much more stable and rated third place as a success.
"That was a really nice competition," said Geiger, who managed the furthest jump in the German quartet.
"Today we accelerated from the first jump."
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After the first round, the German team was in second place with a very even performance.
There were only three meters between the longest jump of the overall World Cup second Eisenbichler at 126.5 meters and the shortest by Hamann.
Ski flying world champion Geiger, who jumped 125 meters and scored the most points, clenched his fist with satisfaction, Eisenbichler waved at the television camera.
In the second attempt under floodlights in the snowy winter landscape, especially «Eisei», as Eisenbichler is called in the team, and Geiger convinced with a brilliant final.
In the last lap and in a direct duel with Austrian Daniel Huber, the man from Oberstdorf jumped for a podium place 129 meters and caused cheers among the waiting teammates.
“This is one of my favorite hills,” said the 27-year-old with satisfaction.
Eisenbichler also agreed with his performance.
«Today I was stable.
Acceptable twice, okay.
I am satisfied, ”said the man from Siegsdorf.
"I am happy that we are finally on the podium again."
No German athlete had a really big weakness.
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On this Sunday, the jumpers are challenged to end the World Cup weekend individually.
Eisenbichler said the goal on ZDF was to improve again.
"It's coming back slowly," he commented on his form.
The competition starts at 4 p.m. (ZDF and Eurosport).
Before that, the qualification that was canceled on Friday due to poor conditions will be rescheduled.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210123-99-143191 / 3
The ski jumping world cup calendar
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Information about the World Cup in Lahti
The status in the overall World Cup
FIS profile by Markus Eisenbichler
Fis profile by Karl Geiger