Geiger pips Oftebro to win riveting Gundersen in Ramsau

Defending overall champion Vinzenz Geiger (GER) won a dramatic Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Gundersen in Ramsau, outsprinting Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR) by 0.1 seconds after a late two-man break. Geiger started the 10 km cross-country in 15th place, 1:20 behind jumping leader Thomas Rettenegger (AUT), while Oftebro began 1:17 down in 12th. The pair bridged to the front on the final lap and engaged in a tactical finish, with Geiger taking his 18th World Cup victory, his first of the season, and a sixth career win in Ramsau, equalling Jarl Magnus Riiber’s record at the venue.

Johannes Lamparter (AUT), wearing the Yellow Bib, recovered in the closing meters to claim third after passing both Rettenegger brothers, first Stefan and then Thomas, in a sprint to the line. Thomas Rettenegger edged Johannes Rydzek (GER) in a photo for fourth; Stefan Rettenegger finished sixth, and Ilkka Herola (FIN) was seventh.

The race featured a classic multi-athlete chase after the jump. Lamparter, starting 56 seconds behind Thomas Rettenegger, initially joined Herola in the pursuit. Oftebro and Stefan Rettenegger towed a fast group—including Rydzek and the accelerating Geiger—up to Lamparter and Herola by lap three, closing the gap to within seconds of the leader. On the final uphill, Oftebro, Geiger, Stefan Rettenegger, Lamparter, and Herola swept past the tiring leader before Geiger and Oftebro broke clear for the decisive sprint.

Earlier on the HS98 hill, Austria underlined its jumping depth. Thomas Rettenegger delivered the day’s dominant jump at 95.5 m for 138.8 points, his fourth top jump in six completed competitions this season. Austria placed nine athletes in the top 20 of the jumping round, including Paul Walcher, Florian Kolb, Lukas Greiderer, and Andreas Gfrerer. Ilkka Herola split the Austrians near the top, while Lamparter was fourth on the hill. Strong skiers such as Rydzek (ninth), Stefan Rettenegger (10th), Oftebro (12th), Greiderer (13th), and Geiger (15th) set up the furious pursuit on the tracks.

Lamparter extended his overall World Cup lead to 67 points over Thomas Rettenegger and 106 over Julian Schmid (GER), who placed 15th. The Schonach weekend (3–4 January) was canceled due to poor snow and warm weather; the circuit resumes in Otepää, Estonia, with three events from 9–11 January. Full results are available via FIS.