Andreas Kofler of Austria wins 1st stop of Four-Hill Tour

Kofler of Austria wins Four-Hill ski jump

OBERSTDORF, Germany — Andreas Kofler of Austria has won the opening stop on the Four-Hill Tour, beating record five-time overall winner Janne Ahonen of Finland.

Kofler mastered windy and rainy conditions Tuesday to collect 265.2 points for jumps of 125 meters and 134 meters. Ahonen, who returned this season after one year in retirement, finished the two-heat series on 253.3 points after jumps of 116.5 meters and 137 meters.

“It’s sensational, I am extremely happy,” Kofler said after his first win in nearly four years.

Ahonen was one of the 20 competitors who were allowed to restart after the first heat was interrupted to extend the runway because of difficult conditions.

Thomas Morgenstern of Austria was third with 250.3 points after leaps of 124.5 and 126.5.

Last year’s winner of the tour, Wolfgang Loitzl of Austria, was fourth. Simon Amman of Switzerland was fifth and extended his overall World Cup lead.

He has 469 points, 58 ahead of Gregor Schlierenzauer of Austria, who finished ninth.