The emotional jumper is back.

For Markus Eisenbichler, this New Year's Eve was a splendid end to the year.

Nobody was better than the Bavarian when it was time to take measurements on the Great Olympic Hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the New Year's jump on Saturday (2 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Four Hills Tournament, on ZDF and on Eurosport).

So Eisenbichler gained new self-confidence with his victory in qualifying.

Ralf Weitbrecht

Sports editor.

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"My second training jump was better," said the six-time world champion at the end of his interview marathon on the rather empty hill, where, like in Oberstdorf, no spectators were allowed to take part in this 70th edition of the Four Hills Tournament.

"But I think I can ski jumping quite well."

What an understatement from the German who jumped 137 meters and this time positioned himself in front of his teammate Karl Geiger, who finished third with a jump of 135.5 meters.

Wedged by the two German top jumpers: Ryoyu Kobayashi.

The Oberstdorf winner, who landed after 134 meters in the qualifying event in the Garmisch part of Partenkirchen, confirmed his good form.

Eisenbichler didn't want his success to be overrated before the competition on New Year's Day. Instead of responding to his now increased chances, Eisenbichler said rather: “I'll keep my fingers crossed for Karl. For me, the overall ranking is not in the foreground. It is important that I get back on the dam. My goal is to live out my passion with ski jumping. ”Eisenbichler's passion is to fly. So it was perfect that he could do this on New Year's Eve on a designated flying hill. If it works, then it works.

This is also the case with Karl Geiger.

He had used the day between the first jump in his home town and the qualification in Garmisch-Partenkirchen to regenerate and take a breath.

“The rest day was really good for me,” said Geiger, who went to the interview round after jumping together with his friend and specialist Eisenbichler.

"The jump today was good," said the fifth in the overall standings, clearly 3.39 meters behind the leader Kobayashi.

Geiger recalled the many courses that he and the team of national coach Stefan Horngacher completed here on the Great Olympic Hill in the summer.

“Even then I got along well here.

The challenge on the tour is to be in top shape for all competition jumps.

You shouldn't allow yourself any weaknesses. "

On the last day of 2021, when Geiger, Eisenbichler and Co. took their leave with a jump, almost everything went well.

Unlike in Oberstdorf, Andreas Wellinger survived the qualification as 47th.

Severin Freund, who had been in the leader box for a long time and only had to make room for a better one after the 28th jumper, did not have any complaints about the suit.

Instead, there was sadness, sadness and depression in Team Austria.

Stefan Kraft, the world champion of Oberstdorf 2021, failed in the qualification.

59th place only for the Austrian forerunner.

Two days ago in Oberstdorf it was Kamil Stoch, the former Grand Slam tour winner, who suffered the same fate.

Two tragic crashes.

The Germans provided the contrast program on New Year's Eve.

Eisenbicher and Geiger top - great prospects for 100 years of New Year's jumping on Saturday in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.