Red card in Garmisch — Top jumper disqualified again

Timi Zajc was disqualified again at the Four Hills Tournament in Garmisch-Partenkirchen after his suit failed the measurement check. At Thursday's New Year's competition the Slovenian received a red card because the inner leg length of his jumping suit was 4 millimetres too long.

This is the second disqualification for Zajc in the Tourneé: in Oberstdorf he was already disqualified when officials found the inner leg length of his suit to be three millimetres too long. The earlier disqualification in Oberstdorf cost the second-placed jumper his chance at an overall Tour victory.

Because this is a repeat offence, Zajc has been shown a red card — meaning he is not allowed to start at the remaining Four Hills events in Innsbruck and Bischofshofen and will have to watch from the stands.

The technical justification is that a too-short inner leg length can create a larger wing area in the crotch region, potentially giving the athlete an aerodynamic advantage in flight. The organisers applied the equipment rules and enforced the disqualification accordingly.