Six nations celebrate Youth Cup podiums in Oberstdorf

The second competition day of the FIS Youth Cup in Oberstdorf (GER) brought a complete change in conditions. After heavy rain and cloudy skies on the opening day, high temperatures and bright sunshine welcomed the young athletes already during the morning jumping competition on the HS 60.

Following yesterday’s cross-country runs, the 129 athletes from 15 nations switched to roller skis today for the Individual Compact competitions through Oberstdorf.

Boys 1

A total of 31 athletes from 13 nations competed in the Boys 1 category.

Oskar Raczka (POL) took the lead in the morning with a jump of 54 meters and 105.1 points, earning the first starting position for the 3 km roller ski race.

Yesterday’s winner Eric Foerschler (GER) also reached 54 meters and scored 104.7 points. Due to the fixed starting times of the Compact format, he started six seconds behind Raczka.

Sverre Hov (NOR) followed in third with 53.5 meters and 102.8 points, starting 12 seconds behind the leader.

Once the race got underway, Raczka was unable to hold onto his advantage and dropped back, while Foerschler and Hov took over at the front and shared the leading work.

The decision came on the final lap, when Hov managed to pull away from the German and open a gap. The 14-year-old Norwegian crossed the finish line first to secure the first Youth Cup victory of his career, 6.2 seconds ahead of Foerschler in second.

Behind them, Till Thumser (GER) produced another strong race. After starting from eighth position, he worked his way up to third and finished 41.2 seconds behind the winner, securing his first Youth Cup podium.

Girls 1

The Girls 1 competition featured 20 athletes from seven nations.

Charlotte Starke (GER) delivered the longest jump of the category with 54 meters and 100.9 points, taking the lead ahead of the 2 km roller ski race.

Olava Wesche Fossheim (NOR) ranked second after reaching 53 meters and scoring 98.4 points, starting six seconds behind Starke according to the fixed Compact starting differences.

Alina Hurschler (SUI) followed in third with 52.5 meters and 96 points, 12 seconds behind the leader.

Starke continued her strong performance on the roller ski course and confidently kept her competitors at a distance. The 14-year-old German reached the finish first to celebrate the first Youth Cup victory of her career.

Hurschler gained one position during the race and finished second, 5.8 seconds behind Starke, also reaching the first Youth Cup podium of her career.

Yesterday’s winner Mette Korhonen (FIN) produced the biggest comeback of the race. Starting from 15th after jumping, she skied her way through the field and all the way onto the podium, taking third place 19 seconds behind the winner. Fossheim dropped back during the race and eventually finished fourth.

Boys 2

A total of 50 athletes from 14 nations lined up in the Boys 2 category.

For the second day in a row, Filippo Desilvestro (ITA) took the lead after jumping. The Italian reached 56 meters and collected 110.8 points, putting him first onto the 4 km roller ski course.

Gabriel Barkats Brandina (FRA) produced the longest jump of the category with 56.5 meters and 110.3 points. He started six seconds behind Desilvestro.

Liam Demong (USA) ranked third with 55.5 meters and 105.8 points and began the race 12 seconds behind the leader.

Just as on the opening day, Desilvestro was unable to defend his lead on the course and eventually finished ninth. A leading group formed behind him, with Demong staying in contention before finishing fifth.

Timon Brglez (SLO), sixth after jumping, delivered a strong roller ski performance and worked his way all the way to the front. The 17-year-old reached the finish line first to secure the fifth Youth Cup victory of his career.

His Slovenian teammate Jaka Pavec, who had started from seventh position, followed him through the field and claimed second place, 8.7 seconds behind.

Nico Voetter (AUT) also made up several positions, moving from 14th after jumping to third at the finish, 9.8 seconds behind the winner.

Girls 2

The Girls 2 category saw 26 athletes from 11 nations on the start list.

Michele-Sophie Eller (GER) took the lead in the morning after reaching 54.5 meters and scoring 106.4 points. She therefore started first into the 3 km roller ski race through Oberstdorf.

Laly Pingat (FRA) also landed at 54.5 meters and collected 105.2 points, putting her second and six seconds behind Eller at the start.
Karina Kozlova (UKR) followed in third with 54.5 meters and 102.9 points, starting 12 seconds behind the leader.

Eller tried to defend her advantage, but the strong skiing of her competitors soon closed the gap. Pingat moved into the lead, closely followed by her French teammate and yesterday’s winner Loa Jeantet, who had started the race from fourth position.

Kozlova was also unable to hold onto her starting position and eventually finished sixth.

At the front, Pingat managed to pull away from her teammate and crossed the finish line first, securing victory with an 11.4-second advantage over Jeantet in second. Eller held onto a podium position and finished third, 17.3 seconds behind the winner.