Hoffmann third in Four Hills warm‑up — Kobayashi wins in Engelberg

Felix Hoffmann and Philipp Raimund underlined their status as Four Hills contenders at the final World Cup event before the Tour. In Engelberg on Sunday, Hoffmann clinched third place—his second podium of the weekend after finishing runner‑up on Saturday—while Raimund took fourth.

Japan’s Ryoyu Kobayashi won the competition, halting the recent winning run of world champion Domen Prevc. After the first round, Raimund had been tied for the lead with Prevc, but shifting winds reshuffled the order in the final.

The day was marked by volatile wind. “It was turbulent today,” said Germany head coach Stefan Horngacher on ZDF. “But at the end of the day the best jumpers are always up front—and thankfully we currently belong to them.”

Behind Germany’s top duo there was another big gap, particularly with veterans Andreas Wellinger and Karl Geiger sitting out due to poor form. Pius Paschke (36th) missed the second round after placing 15th the day before. Luca Roth reached the final from 54th in qualifying and finished 28th. World Cup debutant Ben Bayer ended 38th and 54th across his attempts and did not score points.

Hoffmann, Raimund and the rest of the German team now get a short Christmas break before the Four Hills Tournament. Horngacher confirmed that both Wellinger and Geiger will return for the Tour, saying: “We’re training and preparing them; they will definitely start the Four Hills.”