Hagen and Armbruster renew rivalry as women’s World Cup opens in Trondheim

Ida Marie Hagen (NOR) and Nathalie Armbruster (GER) are set to renew their rivalry as the women’s Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup opens in Trondheim (NOR). Armbruster, the 2023–24 overall champion, seized last season’s Crystal Globe after a pivotal Seefeld (AUT) weekend when Hagen was disqualified for a suit infringement and missed the Triple’s final Gundersen, handing Armbruster crucial points and momentum. The German teenager then beat Hagen in the tracks in Otepää and never relinquished the Yellow Bib, becoming the first German woman to win the overall title and ending Norway’s early dominance of the discipline.

Armbruster enters the new winter buoyed by a strong Summer Grand Prix, winning two of three individual events and contributing to Germany’s Women’s Team and Mixed Team Sprint victories. Hagen, 25, counters with superb form on Norwegian snow: ten straight World Cup podiums at home, including the last World Cup in Trondheim (March 2024), and a Gundersen silver medal at the 2025 World Championships in Trondheim. By contrast, Armbruster struggled there on the HS102 Normal Hill (6th and 8th), noting issues with in‑run speed.

World Champion Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) – double Crystal Globe winner – is focusing on ski jumping this season to chase Milano‑Cortina 2026 qualification and will not compete in Nordic Combined. Teen Finns Minja Korhonen and Heta Hirvonen, and Austria’s Lisa Hirner – all recently emphasizing ski jumping – are expected on the Trondheim start list. Japan’s Yuna Kasai, fourth overall last season and 2025 World Championship Mass Start gold medalist at the venue, also returns with positive memories.

Schedule and format: Following a PCR on the Normal Hill Thursday, women race an Individual Gundersen on Friday and a Mass Start on Saturday. The men race a Mass Start Saturday, then an Individual Gundersen on the HS138 Large Hill Sunday.

On the men’s side, Johannes Lamparter (AUT) looks to extend a five‑event personal win streak after sweeping Ruka’s Compact and Gundersen to open the season and winning the final two races of last winter. Julian Schmid (GER) twice finished second to Lamparter in Ruka and chases his first World Cup win since Oberstdorf 2023. Defending overall champion Vinzenz Geiger (GER) returns earlier than expected from a foot injury for Saturday’s Mass Start after missing Ruka.

With five‑time overall champion Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR) and veteran Joergen Graabak (NOR) retired, home attention turns to Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR) – 5th in Ruka’s Compact – and older brother Einar Luraas Oftebro (NOR), who followed 9th in the Compact with a career‑best 4th in the Gundersen. Austria’s Thomas and Stefan Rettenegger also impressed in Ruka, with Thomas taking a rare individual podium in the Gundersen and Stefan winning the Mass Start cross‑country before cancellation due to no jumping.

FIS Nordic Combined World Cup – Trondheim schedule (CET) 05.12.25 • 11:00 – Women’s NH Ski Jumping • 14:15 – Women’s Gundersen 5 km

06.12.25 • 09:40 – Men’s Individual Mass Start • 10:20 – Women’s Individual Mass Start • 14:50 – Women’s NH Ski Jumping • 15:35 – Men’s NH Ski Jumping

07.12.25 • 10:55 – Men’s Individual LH Ski Jumping • 14:05 – Men’s Individual Gundersen 10 km