Oftebro outlasts brother to claim back-to-back wins in Oberhof
Jan 18, 2026·Nordic Combined
Jens Luraas Oftebro proved strongest in a duel with elder brother Einar to storm to his second FIS Nordic Combined World Cup win of the weekend in Oberhof with victory in a gruelling Gundersen.
The Norwegian started the cross-country 52 seconds behind in fifth place, but overtook Franz-Josef Rehrl (AUT) - victorious on the hill for the second day running – 4km into the 10km race.
Oftebro worked with brother Einar to establish a 21-second lead over the rest before Jens put the hammer down to break clear of Einar on the third of the four 2.5km laps.
The younger Oftebro, 25, continued to extend his advantage on the final loop to finish comfortably ahead in 27:49.0, 27.8 seconds ahead of Einar Luraas Oftebro.
“He was really strong and kept fighting but it was super hard conditions today and that suited me really well - I just tried to keep a hard pace right from the start,” said Jens after his ninth individual World Cup win, which lifted him up to third in the overall standings after 11 of the scheduled 17 events.
Sunday completed another memorable weekend for Einar Luraas Oftebro, 27, who after a first individual World Cup podium and then a first victory in Otepää, followed his third place in Saturday’s Compact with a superb second, his fourth podium in five starts.
“I felt after the first lap that Jens was having one of those insane days, so I just tried to follow as long as possible,” he said. “He was bit kind to carry me for at least two laps and then he went on the second-last lap.
“Fortunately I was able to stay in front of the group behind, but it was a really hard race, a hard course and tough conditions so I am really happy with second place.”
Julian Schmid (GER), who started the cross-country 1:11 behind alongside Johannes Lamparter (AUT), surged up the field from 14th place to claim a brilliant third place by out-sprinting the overall leader in the finishing straight.
Rehrl pips Rettenegger on hill again
Earlier on the HS100 hill, 45 of the 58 jumpers who started sailed over 90-meters, with three flying over 100m.
Yoshito Watabe (JPN) set the tone with a 97.0m effort for 127.4 points, a tally matched by Terence Weber (GER) after a stylish 94.5m jump before a string of athletes raised the bar again.
Niklas Malacinski (USA, 98.0m for 131.0 points), Marco Heinis (FRA, 98.0m for 132.4) and Simon Mach (GER) - 98.5m, 133.8 points – all took the lead with their respective jumps, Paul Walcher (AUT) also scoring 132.4 from a 96.5m effort, before the leading lights took to the hill.
As was the case on Saturday, Rehrl (below) took the victory with a 103.0m jump – 4.5m longer than he managed a day earlier – to score 146.2 points.
“I am so happy that I had a good chance on this hill again,” he said. “It is really easy for me at the moment to jump far; I'm enjoying it.”
Stefan Rettenegger was the second man to jump over 100m – 101.5m for 134.4 points – to put himself in a strong chance in the cross-country, 47 seconds back.
Another strong skier, Einar Luraas Oftebro, with 5.8 points of wind compensation helping him earn 136.3 points for his 98.0m jump, started only 40 seconds behind in third.
The closest anyone came to toppling Rehrl was team-mate Thomas Rettenegger, the season’s best jumper, who soared out to 104.0m - the longest of the day - but for the second day running it was not enough to deny Rehrl victory.
But his 141.6 points put Rettenegger, who has made big improvements in the tracks, only 18 seconds back, while Lamparter, with a 94.5m jump, and Schmid, with 95.0m, left themselves 1:11 to make up from 13th and 14th places.
Fight to the finish in tracks
The Oftebro brothers and Stefan Rettenegger (below) bore down on Rehrl and Thomas Rettenegger from the outset, taking around 15 seconds out of the deficit in the first kilometer, and closing to around 31 seconds after just 1.4km.
By 3.3km the trio had Rehrl in their sights and caught the Austrian after around 4km, before Stefan Rettenegger dropped back with his brother Thomas.
Behind them, the fast-starting Ilkka Herola (FIN), Kristjan Ilves (EST) and Lamparter forged a second chasing group, swelled by German duo Wendelin Thannheimer and Schmid.
Those five closed to within 30 seconds of the leaders at the end of the second 2.5km loop, but up ahead the Oftebros worked together to surge clear of Rehrl and set up a brotherly battle for victory, with the Retteneggers seemingly fighting for the final podium spot.
But after a punishing burst on the third lap from Jens Luraas Oftebro, Thomas Rettenegger lost touch with brother Stefan and was swallowed up by the fast-finishing Herola, Lamparter and Schmid.
The latter duo maintained a ferocious pace to pass Stefan Rettenegger - who ended up fifth - and have their own sprint for the final podium spot, with Schmid prevailing to cut Lamparter’s overall lead by 10 points, albeit the Austrian still holds a commanding 184-point advantage.
“I knew before the race the two Norwegian guys would be away and it was only on for third place,” said Schmid. “At the end of third lap I thought, ‘OK, now the distance between us is quite good’. We split up on the last lap and Herola did a great job.
“It was a tight finish with Johannes on a really hard track and in the end I am really happy with third place.”
