Hagen wins thrilling Oberstdorf Night Race

Ida Marie Hagen (NOR) claimed victory in the Women’s Individual Compact at the FIS Nordic Combined Summer Grand Prix in Oberstdorf (GER), beating home favorite Nathalie Armbruster (GER) in a close finish under the lights.

Beneath a blue sky, Katharina Gruber (AUT) set the pace on the HS 137. The young Austrian and PCR winner reached 125.5 meters and collected 116.3 points to take the lead ahead of the 5 km roller ski Night Race through Oberstdorf.

Nathalie Armbruster (GER) produced the furthest jump of the day with 127 meters and 105.7 points. Due to the fixed starting times of the Compact format, she started six seconds behind Gruber.

Lisa Hirner (AUT) followed in third with 123.5 meters and 102.2 points, starting 12 seconds behind the leader.

The women faced four laps of the 1.3 km city course, and the fight at the front quickly tightened.

Gruber managed to defend her lead throughout the opening lap, with Armbruster already only 0.7 seconds behind. Meanwhile, Hagen used her strong skiing to rapidly close the gap from further back and was just 2.3 seconds off the lead after 1.3 km.

By the 2.5 km mark, Hagen had taken over at the front. Armbruster stayed right with the Norwegian at +0.4 seconds, while Gruber could no longer match the pace and dropped to third.

Behind them, Ema Volavsek (SLO), who had started from seventh position and currently leads the Best Skier Trophy, was making her way through the field. Halfway through the race, she was 18.8 seconds behind the leader.

Volavsek overtook Gruber during the third lap and moved into podium position, while Hagen and Armbruster continued their head-to-head battle at the front, separated by just 0.4 seconds.

The decision came down to the final sprint. Hagen found enough speed in the closing meters to secure the victory, crossing the finish line 1.2 seconds ahead of Armbruster, who delighted the home crowd with second place.

Volavsek completed the podium in third, finishing 56.5 seconds behind the winner.