Norwegian coach Alexander Stöckl expressed his disappointment to the media about David Kubacki’s first jump. In his opinion, the jury gave the Pole a gift.
David Kubacki won the 71st Four Hills Tournament for the first time. The Pole was the best in the competition on the hill in Innsbruck, followed by his main rival in the fight for the Golden Eagle, Halvor Egner Granerud. The Norwegian has won two previous competitions in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which has provided a significant advantage over rivals.
Alexander Stoeckl does not understand the decision of the judges to lower the starting bar
In the first round of competition in Innsbruck, Halvor Egner Granerud did not perform as well as in previous competitions. The Norwegian landed at a distance of 123.5 m and took only seventh place. Before the jump of the qualification winner David Kubatsky, the jury decided to lower the balance beam. This situation did not please Alexander Stöckl, who claims that the decision of the judges was incomprehensible.
– It was a little strange that the jury decided to go down one step. They didn’t jump very far. Those who jumped up to Kubatsky simply showed very good jumps, the Austrian told TV2.
Alexander Stoeckl: The judges helped Kubatsky
According to the coach of the Norwegian national team, the Pole was in a very privileged position, which was largely due to the decision of the judges.
- It was a very good gift that Kubatsky received from the jury, so thanks to them. I am sure that if Granerud had jumped with the same conditions and balance beam as Kubacki, he would have been in the lead. That’s absolutely true,” Stoeckl added.
The same opinion is shared by the Norwegian television expert Marius Huse, who says that Kubatsky received the award.
Source: Wprost
