Pius Paschke is one of the absolute favorites this year. © ANSA / PHILIPP SCHMIDLI

Who will succeed Kobayashi? The favorites of the tour

The Four Hills Tournament starts on Saturday, and the ski jumpers will once again delight thousands of fans at the ski jump spectacle in Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Innsbruck and Bischofshofen. Who are the favorites?

25 December 2024

From: dpa/tu

Pius Paschke: The oldie of the German team is jumping the season of his life. The police sergeant from Kiefersfelden won five of the ten individual World Cups in 2024/25. "This is the hunted one. We are the hunters," said Austria's Jan Hörl, who has also already won two World Cups this winter.

At the dress rehearsal for the Tour in Switzerland, Paschke showed real weaknesses for the first time this season. The 34-year-old finished in 10th and 18th place. Just a slip-up or a dip in form that will affect the Tour? Teammate Andreas Wellinger believes the overall World Cup leader is still in the flow. "I think he's too good for that and has performed too well in the last few weeks for it to upset him," he said.

Jan Hörl: Unlike Paschke, Hörl gained additional confidence in his own strength in Engelberg. First place once and second place once: it doesn't get much better than that. The 26-year-old already showed last season that the tour could suit him. Hörl won on the Bergisel in Innsbruck and came fourth in the overall ranking.

Jan Hörl also has to be on the list. © ANSA / MANUEL GEISSER

"For me personally, the hunter position is better," he said, referring to Paschke. "Because you have a goal in mind: you want to beat him, you want to be the best ski jumper. That's Pius. That pushes me a bit. I'm working very meticulously to get there."

Daniel Tschofenig: The 22-year-old is in second place in the World Cup rankings, just ahead of his teammate Hörl. Tschofenig won the last competition before the tour last Sunday. Overall, he has only won two World Cups in his career - both in December 2024. The young Austrian also has an additional private connection to ski jumping: he is in a relationship with Canadian world champion Alexandria Loutitt.

Stefan Kraft: Overall World Cup, Four Hills Tournament, World Championship medals and team gold at the Olympics: Kraft has won almost everything a ski jumper can win in his career. Unlike last season, when he was plagued by back problems, the 31-year-old is in top shape this time.

Stefan Kraft wants to attack. © ANSA / MANUEL GEISSER

"The body is doing well, but it's not quite so easy on the ski jump. I would prefer it the other way around," said Kraft. "I'm still trying a lot and looking for the philosopher's stone for the tour." Kraft showed that he is on the right track with third place in the last competition before the start in Allgäu.

Andreas Wellinger: Last year's runner-up in the tournament wants to attack again this year. But the 2018 Olympic champion has to improve significantly to do so. The fluctuations in Wellinger's performance are still too great this season. "I know that I can do it. I don't always manage to do it. That's what I have to work on," he said.

"But I know it's possible. I'm not missing much. It's the little things in my jump that make up not just two or three meters, but quickly five, eight or ten." The 29-year-old remains confident - true to his nature.

Things aren't going well for Kobayashi. © ANSA / MANUEL GEISSER

Ryoyu Kobayashi: The Japanese is a true tour expert. Kobayashi won the last edition of the tour as well as in 2022 and 2019. But this season things are not going well for the Beijing Olympic champion. In principle, you should never write Kobayashi off before a tour. Given that he has only finished in the top ten once this season, it would be very surprising if the 28-year-old suddenly started again.

A tour winner is missing

Olympic champion Kamil Stoch is only a spectator at the Four Hills Tournament for the first time since 2008/09. The three-time overall winner is not in the Polish squad. Poland's ski association stated that Stoch does not feel ready to compete in the tournament that begins this weekend. The 37-year-old has not yet achieved a top-ten result this World Cup season and has even missed out on the points several times.