Coming up: Prestigious King’s Cup in Oslo
Mar 04, 2024·Nordic Combined
From March 7th to 10th, the Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup returns to the birthplace of Nordic winter sports.
Three competitions are scheduled from Thursday to Sunday at traditional Holmenkollen in Oslo (NOR), including the prestigious fight for the King’s Trophy on Saturday.
As last year, the women’s Ski Jumping competition will take place on the Midtstubakken HS 106 on Thursday, before the 5 km cross-country race at Holmenkollen follows on Saturday, with Friday being a rest day.
Hagen leads by 120 points
Ida Marie Hagen, who is leading the Overall World Cup by 120 points ahead of last year’s champion Gyda Westvold Hansen, has the chance to win her first Individual World Cup on home soil, after already taking seven first places this season.
With Hansen and Mari Leinan Lund, who’s currently placed third in the Overall ranking, a total of three Norwegians has chances of victory on home soil, while the two are also fighting for a top position on the Overall podium.
Although German Nathalie Armbruster and Japanese Haruka Kasai both reached the podium this season, they have no chance of an overall top 3 placement anymore. Of course, they will still actively participate in the fight for the coveted "King's Cup", that will be presented by the Norwegian royal family on Saturday.
6th King's Cup for Riiber?
The men around already established Overall World Cup champion Jarl Magnus Riiber, will also not only fight for the day's victories, but for the "King's Cup" on Saturday, that the 26-year-old won five times (2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023) already.
The Norwegian, who returns to the World Cup on home soil after not competing in Lahti due to health issues, will face the biggest competition from team Austria with last year’s Overall World Cup champion Johannes Lamparter and Stefan Rettenegger, who secured a double podium in Riibers absence in Finland.
In addition, Estonian Kristjan Ilves, who placed third in Lahti and is currently 5th in the Overall ranking, still awaits his first Individual victory.
Norwegian Joergen Graabak, after losing the fight for the Best Skier Trophy against Vinzenz Geiger in Lahti, will at least try to collect important points in the Overall World Cup in order to possibly catch up with Stefan Rettenegger in second place.
At the penultimate stop of the season, athletes and fans can look forward to another exciting Holmenkollen Ski Festival which with its unique atmosphere, thrilling competitions and long history brings the perfect ingredients for another unforgettable Nordic Combined weekend.
