Nordic Skiing2026 Grand Prix
Pentaphoto
Nordic combined Grand Prix in France: in the absence of Ida Marie Hagen, the Austrian triumphs ahead of Armbruster and Volavsek, with Italy placing three women in the top ten. In the men’s event (without the Oftebros and the Retteneggers), the Germans were denied as the Wunderteam celebrated again, with Iacopo Bortolas finishing a solid 7th. The summer circuit concludes on Sunday with the Individual Compacts.
Saturday 22 August 4 minutes reading time
A final stage with many absences opened the two-day event in Chaux-Neuve, the third and last stop of the 2026 Grand Prix, with a dominant Katharina Gruber winning the women’s Gundersen event, held without overall dominant force Ida Marie Hagen.
The Austrian, back in the spotlight in Oberstdorf midway through the week, opened up a big lead on the hill and then managed it without difficulty over the 5 km roller-ski segment, starting with a 50” advantage over compatriot Annalena Slamik, who was soon overtaken by Ema Volavsek and Nathalie Armbruster; the Slovenian produced her customary comeback to finish 3rd, just over 17” behind, edged out in the sprint by the German champion.
Fourth place went to an outstanding Daniela Dejori, who produced a powerful finish (having been eighth after the jumping, 1’43” behind Gruber) to finish 1’17” back, with almost 20 seconds on Slamik, while the second Slovenian, Pavec, was 6th and Purker 7th; for Italy, Giada Delugan also finished 9th and Greta Pinzani 10th, Delugan being beaten by Likozar Brankovic in the photo finish.
In the men’s event, the leaders of the first two stages of the summer circuit were absent, from Jens Luraas and Einer Luraas Oftebro to Stefan and Thomas Rettenegger; Fabio Obermeyr therefore prevailed at the end of the 10 km roller-ski race, giving Austria another celebration.
After the first segment of this Gundersen event, the Germans led, with Richard Stenzel ahead of Simon and David Mach, but Obermeyr immediately joined them for a four-way battle all the way to the sprint, with David Mach 2nd and Stenzel 3rd ahead of Simon Mach. Germany also placed Faisst 6th, behind home athlete Tyrode and ahead of Iacopo Bortolas; the former junior world champion put in a solid performance, with a one-minute deficit after the jumping and 35” at the finish, narrowly missing the top five, while Domenico Mariotti gave up some ground in the finale to finish 11th, 42” back. Eros Consolati was 26th and Bryan Venturini 32nd.
The event concludes on Sunday with the two Individual Compacts, staged again as in Bischofshofen and Oberstdorf.
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