Brabec earns maiden win on first day of Triple in Seefeld

Alexa Brabec (USA) celebrated her maiden FIS Nordic Combined World Cup win on the opening day of the Triple in Seefeld, Austria with victory in Friday’s Mass Start.

The 21-year-old American, who trains with the Norwegian team, has already enjoyed a breakthrough season with her first four World Cup podiums and finished in the top four in all nine previous events.

But she went a step further on Friday, setting the platform for victory with a strong third-place finish in the cross-country behind Norwegian duo Ida Marie Hagen and Marte Leinan Lund.

Brabec then jumped 99.5 meters on the Toni Seelos HS109 hill – the third best jump of the day – to take the lead with a combined total of 122.9 points, overtaking Ema Volavsek (SLO) on 121.6.

"It just means everything. My family have been supporting me through this whole journey and having them here to experience this high with me is just amazing." – Alexa Brabec

Volavsek moved up from seventh after the cross-country to finish second after a stunning jump of 100.5m – only the season’s best jumper Ingrid Laate (NOR) went further with 102.5m – to claim her first podium since March 2022 in Schonach.

"I'm so happy to finally be back on the podium, after four years,” said the 23-year-old. "It's a surprise that it happened in a Mass Start. I'm so happy."

Overall leader Hagen, who won the cross-country by nearly 12 seconds from team-mate Lund, had to settle for third place after a jump of 94.0m, the first time she has finished outside the top two this season.

“It's been a really good day and I'm super happy,” Hagen said. “It's so cool to have a team-mate on top, and I've just been waiting for this one.

“I think it's also so cool that Ema is back after she was injured for some time. It is really nice to have her back on the podium. I love being back here."

Defending champion Nathalie Armbruster (GER) had to settle for fourth ahead of Yuna Kasai (JPN), while Annika Malacinski (USA), whose previous highest finish was an eighth place in Ramsau in December 2023, celebrated her best World Cup result in sixth.

The women will tackle a Compact on Saturday, the second day of the Triple, with the jumping scheduled for a 10:15 CET start and the cross-country to follow at 14:45.

Click here for full results from Friday’s Mass Start: https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=NK&raceid=3517