‘Consistency key' for Domen Prevc on World Cup return

New ‘Golden Eagle’ owner Domen Prevc (SLO) will headline a star-studded line-up in Zakopane (POL) as the tour returns to regular World Cup action after the culmination of a spectacular Four Hills Tournament.

Prevc won the 74^th edition of the prestigious tournament last weekend, joining his brother Peter Prevc, as a title holder, with Domen’s elder sibling winning the event a decade ago.

“I had a lot of pressure and I was like ‘just don’t screw it up’ and the final result was even more spectacular than I thought,” stated Prevc, after his latest success. 

“I know how many things can go wrong and I just need to keep focused on keeping it going until the end. My work is in the right direction and I just need to keep it consistent and keep it going.” 

Although Prevc has never achieved an individual top-three result in Zakopane, his form this season suggests that run may well end this weekend and that could see him surpass one of his brother’s achievements when it comes to consecutive World Cup podium finishes.

The pair, together with Halvor Egner Granerud (NOR), are currently second in the overall standings with 12, just one behind leader Janne Ahonen (FIN).

The men’s field will take on two individual World Cup contests in Poland across 10-11 January, with Zakopane also hosting the first Super Team Large Hill contest of the season on Saturday.

Following the exertions of the Four Hills event several of the top-ranked athletes have decided to take a break from the circuit, with Japanese duo Ryoyu Kobayashi and Ren Nikaido, having opted to head back to their homeland and prepare for the Sapporo World Cup, 16-18 Jan.

They are are currently second and third respectively in the overall standings, but any hopes Philipp Raimund (GER) had of overhauling them across the two Zakopane World Cup events have been ended by illness. 

He complained of cold symptoms during the competition in Bischofshofen. The most important thing for him now is to fully recover. It would be too early for Philipp to compete in Poland, stated Germany coach Stefan Horngacher.

He also provided an update on Felix Hoffmann, who has attained four podium finishes during the 2025/26 campaign, but will also miss the event due to injury.

"Following the Four Hills Tournament, Felix Hoffmann underwent an MRI scan,” states Horngacher. “The scan revealed no structural damage to his left knee. The pain, as our medical team had previously suspected, is caused by overuse and the knee will undergo conservative treatment and physiotherapy in the coming days.” 

Bischofshofen World Cup winner and reigning Crystal Globe champion Daniel Tschofenig is another who will be absent from the starting line-up in Zakopane, as is Stefan Kraft, but their countrymen Jan Hoerl and Stephan Embacher will lead Austria’s medal charge in Poland.

Prevc’s team-mate Anze Lanisek, is another leading name to look out for as he bids to return to the form which saw him claim the yellow jersey for the first time in his career earlier in the season.

Host nation hopes will likely be led by teenager Kacper Tomasiak, Poland's leading athlete on the men's circuit this season.

There will also be plenty of interest in the performances of Polish countrymen Kamil Stoch and Dawid Kubacki, who went head-to-head in the KO knockout round at the Bischofshofen World Cup last weekend.

Stoch, a three-time individual Olympic champion and triple winner of the Four Hills contest, has announced he will retire at the end of the season and his long-term team-mate, as well as rival, Kubacki admits there is a lot of emotion reflecting on their shared journey.

“We've been through a lot together, we've experienced a lot – both difficult moments and wonderful ones, so it breaks my heart a little that it won't happen again,” says Kubacki.

Stoch, who made his World Cup debut from the Zakopane hill back in 2004 at the age of 16, added; “I'm glad I experienced such moments, that I was part of that golden era of ski jumping in Poland. I made the most of it and can walk off the hill with my head held high.”

FIS SKI JUMPING WORLD CUP – ZAKOPANE (POL) SCHEDULE
10.01.2026
14:15 – Start Qualification – QUA Men’s LH
16:10 – Competition Start – Men’s LH
11.01.2026
16:00 – Competition Start – Men’s LH
All times listed in CET and are subject to change.