Nordic Combined
German duo face fight to defend World Cup crowns in new Nordic Combined season
November 20, 2025 / FIS
FIS previews the 2025–26 Nordic Combined World Cup, where Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger and Nathalie Armbruster aim to defend their overall titles in a field opened up by Jarl Magnus Riiber’s retirement. The article reviews last season’s dramatic finish, highlights key contenders like Johannes Lamparter, Stefan Rettenegger, Julian Schmid, Ilkka Herola, and Ida Marie Hagen, and outlines a packed calendar including Seefeld’s Triple, Milano–Cortina 2026, and the discipline’s first men’s Ski Flying event at Kulm. It also notes steps toward gender equality with equal overall prize-money distribution and significant women’s venues, including Lahti large hill and a mixed team event.
German Nordic combiners Stenzel and Sommerfeldt ready for World Cup opener
November 18, 2025 / Sportschau (MDR regional)
Germany’s Richard Stenzel and Tristan Sommerfeldt will start the 2025/26 Nordic Combined World Cup in Ruka on 27 November. Sommerfeldt, temporarily replacing Olympic champion Vinzenz Geiger who is out with a right‑foot injury, and Stenzel—both 20 and now training under Ronny Ackermann—aim to stake claims for one of three German Olympic spots for Milano‑Cortina 2026. Head coach Eric Frenzel says internal qualification standards are stricter than DOSB’s: two podiums or three top‑six results are required.
Surgery layoff: Austrian Nordic combined ace to miss World Cup opener; Seidl called up
November 13, 2025 / Krone.at
Austria’s Fabio Obermeyr underwent an appendectomy and will miss the Nordic Combined World Cup opener in Ruka at the end of the month. The Austrian team has called up Mario Seidl as his replacement, marking his first World Cup start since March 2024 after serving a backdated blood‑doping suspension covering Nov 2019–Nov 2023. Team doctor Philipp Wagner expects Obermeyr to resume training in about two weeks.
Setback for Germany’s Nordic combined star Vinzenz Geiger: ligament avulsions sideline him for season start
November 10, 2025 / SPORT1
Two-time Olympic champion Vinzenz Geiger suffered three bony ligament avulsions in his right foot during strength training and will miss the opening World Cup rounds in Kuusamo and Lillehammer. Germany head coach Eric Frenzel says the injury is not long-term and expects a relatively quick return once healed. With Jarl Magnus Riiber retired, Geiger had been seen as a leading favorite heading into the Olympic season (February 6–22).
Armbruster: Excluding women from Nordic combined is a “no‑go”
November 10, 2025 / Sportschau (BR/ARD)
German Nordic combined star Nathalie Armbruster criticizes the IOC decision to exclude women’s Nordic combined from the 2026 Winter Olympics, calling it unfair and harmful to the sport’s future. Despite reforms by FIS and growth since women were admitted in 2020, the IOC will review data from Milan–Cortina 2026 before deciding whether Nordic combined remains on the Olympic program in 2030, potentially for both genders—or not at all. Teammates like Julian Schmid and double Olympic champion Johannes Rydzek warn that losing Olympic status could threaten youth development and World Cup support.
Ligament avulsions — Overall World Cup winner to miss the season start
November 10, 2025 / krone.at
Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger, the reigning overall Nordic Combined World Cup champion, has suffered three bony ligament avulsions during a warm-up for strength training and will miss the Olympic-season opener. According to the German Ski Association, he will skip the World Cup rounds in Ruka (Nov 27–30) and Trondheim (Dec 5–7). With Jarl Magnus Riiber retired, Geiger had been seen as a key rival to Austria’s Johannes Lamparter heading toward the 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
Nordic combined: Vinzenz Geiger to miss start of the season due to foot injury
November 10, 2025 / Sportschau
Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger, double Olympic champion and last season’s overall World Cup winner, suffered three bony ligament avulsions in his right foot during strength training and will miss the start of the Olympic season. He will skip the early World Cup stops in Kuusamo and Lillehammer while beginning rehab, with head coach Eric Frenzel saying the injury should heal without long-term issues. With Jarl Magnus Riiber retired, Geiger had been considered a leading favorite for the new season.
Nordic combined chief on Riiber: Yesterday’s ‘break’ was decisive – Riiber ends his Olympics and flies home
November 04, 2025 / Eurosport Norge
Norway’s Nordic combined sports director Ivar Stuan says Jarl Magnus Riiber is ending his Olympic campaign and will return home to Norway on Thursday. Stuan explains that a setback the day before was decisive for the decision. The piece is presented as a video segment on Eurosport.
Lasse Ottesen: “If you’re not following Nordic Combined, you’re missing out”
November 03, 2025 / FIS
FIS Nordic Combined Race Director Lasse Ottesen previews the 2025/26 World Cup season, calling it one of the most thrilling in years with a historically close overall battle and new venues as the Olympics approach. He reflects on format evolution, highlighting successes like the Seefeld TRIPLE and the enduring impact of the Gundersen method, and stresses the rapid rise of Women’s Nordic Combined with ambitions for Olympic inclusion in 2030. Ottesen also shares behind‑the‑scenes challenges, such as a timing-system power scare in Ruka, and teases further innovations to come.
‘Silver hero’ on his comeback: ‘I didn’t believe it’
October 29, 2025 / Eurosport Norway
A Eurosport video segment features Norwegian Nordic combined star Jørgen Graabak reflecting on his late-race surge to secure an Olympic silver medal, the fourth Olympic medal of his career. He admits he “didn’t believe” he could close the gap before producing a dramatic finish.
Samuel Costa: “The passion for the sport is still the same”
October 28, 2025 / FIS
Italian Nordic Combined athlete Samuel Costa has reversed his 2024 retirement and is returning to compete through the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics. In an interview he cites fresh motivation, a greater appreciation of the Olympic stage, a confidence-boosting Team Sprint win in Chaux‑Neuve, and a healthier mindset—including stepping back from social media—while noting how the sport has become more professional and equipment‑driven.
Annalena Slamik: "If you keep your joy, the results will come by themselves"
October 23, 2025 / FIS
Austrian Nordic Combined athlete Annalena Slamik reflects on her growth since debuting at the historic first women’s World Cup in Ramsau 2020, noting improved ski jumping and cross-country form and greater composure. She praises the rapid progress of women’s Nordic Combined—more World Cups, larger hills, and broader participation—while lamenting the Olympic exclusion. Slamik highlights her first top-10 in Otepää, her love for Mixed Team events, and her goal to stay healthy, enjoy the sport, and achieve more consistent top results; she also discusses a behind-the-scenes social media project with teammate Claudia Purker.