Oftebrothers and Retteneggers chase Lamparter in Nordic Combined

World Cup leader Johannes Lamparter (AUT) will face tough competition at Milano Cortina 2026 from two sets of brothers for the Nordic Combined titles which kicks off with the Individual Gundersen Normal Hill/10km at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on Wednesday.

While Lamparter is showing the best form of the season and is keen to start his Olympic medal collection after coming in fourth at Beijing 2022, Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro and Einar Luraas Oftebro – also known as the “Oftebrothers” – and Austria’s Thomas and Stefan Rettenegger certainly have the pedigree to challenge for the title.

Jens Luraas Oftebro has also had great form in the World Cup as he leads in the best skier standings and sits in second behind Lamparter in the overall standings, with elder brother Einar Luraas in fourth.

However, rather than displaying sibling rivalry, they usually work as a team when facing each other in competition. “We are more about trying to help each other,” said Jens Luraas. “If one of us is in front, we normally don’t go too far ahead so the other can catch up and we both get a better result.

“That happened in [World Cup events in] Otepaa when I was chasing and also in Oberhof when I was in front and Einar was chasing.”

Jens Luraas, 25, who tasted Olympic victory with gold in the Large Team Hill and silver in the Gundersen Large Hill at Beijing 2022, also pointed out that his 27-year-old brother has been unfortunate to have several injury setbacks which took him out of the last Olympic cycle for nearly two years.

“Einar has had huge potential for years but struggled with a lot of injuries and on the jumping hill. But he has been working really hard and is now performing to the level he deserves to be at, which is great for both of us.”

Einar followed his brother’s sentiments as he said: “Nothing makes me happier than to see Jens perform well and that goes both ways.

The Gundersen Normal Hill will likely see Thomas Rettenegger gain an early lead as this season’s best jumper at the World Cup, and combined with three podium finishes – the same as his brother Stefan – they will both be more than capable of mounting a successful run at the podium.

All will be wary of Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger however, the defending Olympic champion from Beijing 2022 who came away from the last World Cup event in Seefeld less than two weeks ago with two podium places.

He missed training on Tuesday to rest after sustaining an issue with his knee. “Yesterday, during the third jump, my knee twinged a bit, nothing serious, but my muscles felt tight,” Geiger said on Tuesday. “I got into the jumps really well right away, so today I decided to skip the training and rest a bit more before going for the competition tomorrow.”

For the full Nordic Combined schedule for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games click here.