Wolfgang Steiert – Hannawald with summer flu.
Martin Schmitt currently trains alone at “Orlow Hill”
w Hinterzarten. A teammate, Svena Hannawalda, got the summer flu and had to take a forced break.
“The flu must have caught up with him last week, when we were shooting an advertising spot for RTL at the height of almost 4000 meters at the top of Piz Palü “, says the national team coach, Wolfgang Steiert.
“But it's nothing dramatic. I assume, that Hanni will return to training on Wednesday”.
The phase starts next week, which is referred to as the preparatory phase for the World Cup 2003/2004.
For a camp, train on the hills, seven first-team players will go (Sven Hannawald, Martin Schmitt, Michael Uhrmann, Georg Spaeth, Maximilian Mechler, Michael Neumeyer, Stephen Hocke).
Stephan Hocke in rehabilitation in Eberbach
Worry number 1 it's definitely Stephan Hocke's injury. squat, who collapsed four weeks ago in Innsbruck, suffering, among other things, a fracture of the thoracic vertebra, stays
this week at Jürgen Wolf, normally responsible for fitness diagnostics on the team. But Wolf also deals with cases, such as that of Stephan Hocke.
However, Hocke will go to the first team's training camp
next week. “Stephan can't jump yet. He will be with us, not to lose touch with the group”, explains Steiert.
“Martin Schmitt needs strength”
You also have to worry about Martin Schmitt. We haven't seen old Martin Schmitt in the past weeks or months, and we probably won't see it anytime soon.
“I have no sense of flight. I hope, that I will get them back by the winter season”, said Schmitt after the last Summer Grand Prix in Innsbruck.
“It's completely clear, that a player like Martin is confused after these results”, says Steiert. “We are needed now – trainers, this is our job, to rebuild it. Martin will complete more intensive strength training. We haven't done much at this point. I'm reminding myself, when last summer Martin was able to train extremely little after a serious operation, and despite this he finished fourth in Oberstdorf.
This year we have significantly better assumptions”.
“Mechler is among our top five”
After a strong start in Innsbruck, Maximilian Mechler too
in the winter he will be among the players, from which victories can be expected. It's necessary to, or better, can Maxi Mechler be included in the list of favorites in the future?
“Maxi Mechler undoubtedly has great potential. he belongs
from summer to our top five, I'd like to stop there for now. Too much euphoria can be harmful in such cases, what the past has often shown”, says Wolfgang Steiert.
“Homework will give us a good start in Kuusamo”
Last year, the inauguration of the season in Finnish Kuusamo was a big flop for the German players. Apart from the good places of Michael Uhrmann, the Germans did not achieve much.
Does the new coach think what will happen, if success does not come again in the first competitions?
“Naturally, this will be subject to severe criticism. This is obvious, if no success. But I'm sure, that if we do our homework properly in the next eight weeks, we will have a good inauguration and all, good season”.
“I rate Rudi Völler's reaction positively”
You can criticize the media, as did Rudi Völler after the match
with Iceland?
“Rudi Völler's reaction after the match against Iceland is positive. For another coach, this is probably a good thing. Now there are more ideas for interpretations and interviews, immediately after such decisions”.
“Everyone has a chance to be the eighth jumper”
The coveted eighth spot on the team is yet to be filled. Who has the best chance, to start as the team's eighth rider in Kuusamo?
“Everyone gets this chance. we will carry out 28. i 29. October, two decisive competitions in Innsbruck. Who will take the top positions in them, will get the last ticket to Finland. Regardless, we're taking Daniel Klausmann to camp next week”.
Inauguration of the World Cup 2003/2004 will be held 28. i 29. November in Kuusamo, Finland.
They will be the highlight of the season, next to the Four Hills Tournament, flying world championships 20.-22.02.2004 in Planica (Slovenia).