Kamil Stoch of Poland topped qualifying at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup season-opener ©Getty Images

Kamil Stoch of Poland topped qualifying at the season-opening International Ski Federation (FIS) Ski Jumping World Cup leg in Wisla.

Stoch, who finished third on the same hill last season, would normally have the backing of the home crowd as he competed. 

Spectators were not allowed into the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, but Stoch did not seem to be disadvantaged by this. 

The 33-year-old finished with a score of 135.3 in the qualifying round.

He was followed by Yukiya Sato of Japan on 128.6 and Markus Eisenbichler of Germany on 128.4. 

Reigning Olympic normal hill champion Andreas Wellinger also made his long-awaited comeback, achieving 97.3 to sit in 38th place. 

Reigning Olympic normal hill champion Andreas Wellinger made his World Cup comeback ©Getty Images
Reigning Olympic normal hill champion Andreas Wellinger made his World Cup comeback ©Getty Images

The German missed the entirety of last season following an anterior cruciate ligament tear.

A broken collarbone suffered while surfing in Australia further delayed his recovery.

Wisla is the site of Wellinger's first solo World Cup triumph in 2014. 

Competition is scheduled to continue tomorrow with a team competition, before an individual event the following day. 

Germany are the reigning Nations Cup champions, but Austria won the Wisla team event last season.