Iris De Martin Pinter secures a podium to round off the Italian cross-country skiers’ Toppidrettsveka campaign

A fine third place for Iris De Martin Pinter yesterday in the classic-technique Pursuit that brought the 2026 edition of the Toppidrettsveka to a close.

The 22-year-old from Veneto crossed the finish line just 2”4 behind a star such as Moa Ilar, with the Swede posting a time of 51’17”8 to narrowly defeat Norway’s Milla Grosberghaugen Andreassen. Caterina Ganz was fifth for Italy, 9”6 back, followed by Nadine Laurent in seventh (+ 1’15”1), Federica Cassol in 23rd, Nicole Monsorno in 24th and Virginia Cena in 35th.

In the men’s race, victory went to American Zak Ketterson in 44’43”7, ahead of Norwegians Leopold Strand and Mattis Stenshagen. Davide Graz took seventh place, while Elia Barp finished 13th, 10” behind, Martino Carollo 15th, 16” behind the winner, Simone Daprà 50th, Simone Mocellini 53rd, Davide Ghio 63rd and Gabriele Matli 70th.

Saturday saw the Brekka Opp in Aure, held in heavy rain as a 10 km uphill skating mass start. In the men’s race, an impressive Stenshagen (while Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo stayed on the sidelines, having initially been expected to start but not feeling at his best) defeated compatriot Leopold Strand by 7”5 and Andreas Ree by 7”9. Martino Carollo took a fine fourth place, 11”5 back, with Davide Graz slightly further behind in 14th (33”9 down), followed by Elia Barp in 27th, Simone Daprà in 41st, Davide Ghio in 43rd and Simone Mocellini in 58th. In the women’s mass start, Kristin Fosnaes prevailed, with a combative Nora Sanness just 2”4 behind and Germany’s Pia Fink third at 23”6.

Caterina Ganz was the best of the Italian competitors, finishing fifth at 32”6, while Virginia Cena was 29th. Iris de Martin Pinter did not start; the previous day she had finished fourth in the 32 km classic-technique race that opened the Toppidrettsveka. The men’s distance race, held over 53 km in Hitra, was won by Norway’s Johan Hoel ahead of Sweden’s Tage Börjesson and compatriot Casper Kvam Grindhagen. Davide Graz was the best Italian in 19th place, 1’22” behind, followed by Elia Barp (26th at 2’24”), while Davide Ghio, Simone Daprà and Martino Carollo all finished outside the top 30.