Pressure tells in Pra Loup, as Eriksen and Michel tighten grip on Telemark Crystal Globes

The FIS Telemark World Cup arrived in Pra Loup for the penultimate stop of the 2025/26 season, where warm sunshine, excellent snow conditions and a distinctly Provençal atmosphere provided a striking contrast to the intensity of the Crystal Globe race. Set in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the relaxed surroundings masked the high-stakes nature of the competition, with athletes facing three days of demanding racing across Sprint and Classic formats.

Going into Pra Loup, in the women’s rankings Gøril Strøm Eriksen (NOR) continued to lead the Overall, Sprint and Parallel Sprint standings, while also sitting second behind Augustine Carliez (FRA) in the Classic classification - setting up a fascinating battle in the remaining races.

On the men’s side, Nicolas Michel (SUI) arrived here leading the Overall standings, while also topping the Sprint and Classic rankings. However, the fight remains far from settled, with Yoann Rostolan (FRA) maintaining the advantage in the Parallel Sprint standings.

Also notable was Team Japan joining the World Cup circuit for the races here and next week in Les Contamines Montojoies (FRA), in the shape of athletes Kato Taiki and Hirose Kohei.

Day One: big air and breakthrough win for Petex

Day One’s Sprint race delivered immediate drama, with athletes facing a massive jump line - 18 meters for women and 23 meters for men - prompting comparisons of “to the moon or to the loom”.

In the women’s race, Eriksen continued her strong season form, claiming victory ahead of Carliez and Léa Lathion (SUI), with last year's treble Crystal Globe winner Jasmin Taylor (GBR) just outside the podium in fourth.

"The first run I was a bit surprised, the course had more turns than I expected and I jumped way further than I'd thought I would - but I managed to land it ok. I managed to go quicker than I thought, so I'm very pleased,” said Eriksen. “I felt quite stressed this morning, but I imagine everyone else in the race for a Globe is also feeling stressed, so just tried to stay calm and do the best I can."

The men’s race saw a breakthrough performance from Charly Petex (FRA), who secured his first win of the season. Norway’s Jacob Benjamin Alveberg continued his late-season surge with second place with the ever-reliable Michel (SUI) taking third.

Overall title contender Rostolan (FRA) dented his title hopes with a fall after the jump landing, highlighting the risk-reward nature of the demanding course.

“The organisation here has been great, we've had a warm welcome, the sun's out, everyone's been saying how good it's been,” said Petex.

Day Two: Michel and Eriksen end Classic droughts

Day Two’s Classic race brought a different challenge, with rhythm variations and technical demands testing both endurance and precision.

In the women's event, Eriksen (NOR) continued her imperious form to win again, finishing ahead of Taylor (GBR) and Classic specialist Carliez (FRA).

“I was feeling very good today and the snow here was super nice,” said Eriksen after her second success in two days and first Classic triumph.

On the men's side, Michel (SUI) - the oldest racer in the top ten - produced one of the standout performances of the season, winning his first World Cup Classic Race in 217 attempts.

“After 217 WC starts to finally win a Classic Race is incredible! The sun was out today, the course was amazing and I felt confident after yesterday’s racing. I was mega-relaxed from the start today and that worked in my favour,” said Michel. “Nothing’s decided yet, but it gives me a bit of a lead and I’ll be doing everything I can to clinch the Globes as soon as possible.”

His win was a blow to the title chances of Team France duo Page, who took second spot, and Rostolan (sixth), triggering Telemark enthusiasts' memories of fellow "Swiss Rocks" Amélie Wenger Reymond and Bastien Dayer frustrating the hopes of French contenders in the past. Grabbing a notable third place was Canada's Adrian Ball, his first ever WC podium.

"I'm very happy with my first podium, and I believe a first ever for Canada, 3rd place in the Classic,” said Ball. “The course was in great shape and fun to ski. I didn’t expect it in this format, but that said, my first podium at a Junior World Championship was also a 3rd place in a Classic in Pra Loup.”

Day Three: Carliez and Alveberg strike back

The final day of Classic racing saw momentum shift, Carliez (FRA) once again bringing out her credentials to secure her third Classic victory of the season. Eriksen (NOR) – in true Terminator fashion - refused to be shaken off and took second, a mere 0.2 seconds ahead of Taylor (GBR) in third. Camille Bourbon (FRA) took fourth - matching her position on Day Two - and Gøril’s younger sister Ella Strøm Eriksen came fifth.

 “I raced well to come third [on Day Two] but I was still a bit frustrated this morning as I wanted to do better,” said Carliez. “I was more relaxed today, but still determined to correct the mistakes I’d made - I knew if I did that I could get a much faster time. I’m really happy with the win and it puts me in a good position in the race [for the Classic Globe].”

Over on the men’s side, Alveberg (NOR), who won the Classic in Bardonecchia (ITA) last time out, repeated the feat to put himself firmly in the hunt for the Classic Globe. In second came Alexis Page (FRA) and Rostolan (FRA) third, though fourth spot was enough for Michel to stay narrowly ahead of Page in the Classic standings.

Adding to Page’s positive finish was Saturday evening’s festivities, with Page and fellow WC racer Théo Sillon (FRA) - known collectively as Nauru Music (@naurumusic) - performing their third “Race to Rave” gig of this year’s circuit.

Crystal Globe race reaches fever pitch

After racking up 7 wins and 14 podiums in 25/26 so far, Gøril Strøm Eriksen has opened up a commanding lead in the Overall Globe standings, as well as topping the table in the Sprint and Parallel Sprint. Carliez (FRA), for her part, leads in the Classic standings - having come agonisingly close to lifting that particular Globe in 24/25.

In the men’s rankings, Michel, who finished second behind now-retired Norwegian icon Trym Nygaard Loeken in the Overall, Sprint and Parallel Sprint Crystal Globes in 24/25, strengthened his grip on the Overall charts, while also protecting his advantage in the Sprint and Classic classifications. Page (FRA) is Michel’s closest chaser in the hunt for all three of those Globes, while his countryman Rostolan currently tops the Parallel Sprint standings.

The 2025/26 season now heads to its finale in Les Contamines Montojoies (FRA) on 26-28 March, featuring Classic racing on Day One, Sprint on Day Two and the unmatched excitement of the head-to-head Parallel Sprint on Day Three.