Nordic combined – German win in Ramsau ends Austria’s streak

Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger won the second Nordic Combined World Cup competition in Ramsau, ending Austria’s run of victories to start the season. After the ski jumping phase of the Gundersen event, Austria’s Thomas Rettenegger led by 48 seconds for the 10 km cross‑country, thanks to a 95.5 m jump and his mass start win the day before. His advantage steadily shrank from the third of four laps, and he was caught on the penultimate kilometre.

Geiger and Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro then fought out a sprint to the line, with Geiger taking his sixth career win in Ramsau by 0.1 seconds. Triple season winner Johannes Lamparter finished third at +8.4 seconds to secure his fourth podium of the season and successfully defend the overall World Cup lead. “Those guys coming from behind (Geiger, Oftebro) are by far the fastest right now. I could still fight somewhat on the last lap. For Ramsau, the summary is very good. Extending my lead again is one of the nicest Christmas gifts,” said the 24‑year‑old Austrian.

Thomas Rettenegger ended up fourth, missing the podium by just 0.1 seconds. Stefan Rettenegger, third in the mass start the previous day alongside his brother, finished sixth, immediately behind Germany’s Johannes Rydzek and 0.5 seconds behind Lamparter. He was dissatisfied with his cross‑country form: “The running bothers me a bit; I don’t really recognise myself.”

Austria’s Lukas Greiderer, in his World Cup comeback after placing 17th the day before, took tenth (+51.6), just ahead of Martin Fritz in 11th (+56.0). Local athletes Franz‑Josef Rehrl (+1:35.5) and Paul Walcher (+1:37.7) were 22nd and 23rd. Rehrl struggled on the hill on both days, while Walcher, third after the jump, could not keep pace on the tracks. Fabio Obermeyr, also returning to the World Cup team, fell in the cross‑country and finished 29th (+1:53.4).

Women’s event: Norway’s Ida Marie Hagen surged from sixth after the jump to win the 5 km by 18.7 seconds for her 20th World Cup victory, tying Lamparter’s tally. The USA’s Alexa Brabec repeated as runner‑up, and Germany’s overall World Cup title holder Nathalie Armbruster finished third (+33.5). Lisa Hirner was fourth (+51.6). Katharina Gruber outsprinted Norway’s top skier Marte Leinan Lund for fifth (+59.0). Annalena Slamik was 22nd (+3:48.7), while Claudia Purker did not start due to illness.

Gruber, the Trondheim winner, has not finished worse than fifth in four events this season: “I tried to go with the faster skiers and could defend well at the end. I’m very happy with the weekend.” Hirner said she now heads into the Christmas break with a good feeling. Austria women’s coach Florian Schabereiter called the team result “another big bright spot.”