Eriksen, Michel, Carliez and Rostolan crowned as Crystal Globe dreams realised in Les Contamines finale

The FIS Telemark World Cup season reached its climax in Les Contamines-Montjoie (FRA), where heavy snowfall and strong winds created a dramatic backdrop for the final showdown of the 2025/26 campaign. In a sport where the Crystal Globe represents the ultimate achievement - the culmination of a season’s effort and the dream of every athlete - the stakes could not have been higher.

Heading into the finale, the title races were finely poised. Gøril Strøm Eriksen (NOR) held a commanding lead in the women’s Overall standings, as well as topping the Sprint and Parallel Sprint rankings, while Augustine Carliez (FRA) led the Classic standings. In the men’s competition, Nicolas Michel (SUI) had established control of the Overall, Sprint and Classic classifications, with Alexis Page (FRA) his closest challenger and Yoann Rostolan (FRA) leading the Parallel Sprint standings.

Day One cancelled as weather reshapes finale

The final stop on the Telemark World Cup circuit began with disruption, as Day One’s racing was cancelled due to heavy snowfall and strong winds that made it impossible to prepare a course that was both safe and fair for all athletes.

"The conditions are difficult and there’s been a heavy snowfall, which would have meant that the state of the piste was not the same for all the athletes," said Team France coach Antoine Bouvier.

With the Classic standings more tightly contested than Sprint, organisers adjusted the schedule, moving Classic racing to Day Two and preserving the decisive Parallel Sprint for the final day. The cancellation meant the Sprint Crystal Globes were decided by the results of the season to that point, with Eriksen and Michel securing the titles after impressively consistent campaigns.

Day Two: Carliez and Michel seal Classic glory

Day Two’s Classic race became the pivotal moment of the weekend - and ultimately of the season.

In the women’s race, Jasmin Taylor (GBR) claimed victory to close her season on a high, finishing ahead of Camille Bourbon (FRA).

“It’s been a challenging season with lots of ups and downs, so it feels like a real triumph to feel good on my skis again and end the season on a high by winning this Classic,” said Taylor, after her victory, though the main spotlight fell on Carliez (FRA), whose third-place finish was enough to secure the Classic Crystal Globe, her first.

“The pressure was hard to handle but I’m very thankful for the great support from the staff, my family and the team, which has helped me lift this Globe today. I think back to when I was a little girl 15 years ago who’d just started skiing, and she would never imagine she’d win a Globe like this one day.”

On the men’s side, Michel built on his Classic win in Pra Loup - his first in a staggering 217 World Cup starts - with another victory in a late surge that clinched him the Classic and Overall Crystal Globes, to go with the Sprint honours already in the bag. Remarkably, these were Michel's first Globes since he lifted the Sprint crown in 2021, and was a repeat of his Overall, Sprint and Classic treble achieved way back in 2018.

Michel’s delight was in stark contrast to the disappointment of France’s Alexis Page, narrowly behind in the Classic standings going into this final race but missing out after finishing fourth behind Michel, Adrian Ball (CAN) and Charly Petex (FRA).

In a cruel twist of fate, Page actually completed the day’s fastest run but was hit by jump penalties for landing 3cm short of the jump line, penalties which denied him a Globe-securing win. Even crueller perhaps was the fact that his mother Anne was the judge in question, with both mother and son visibly devastated post-race.

Day Three: Parallel Sprint delivers drama and farewells

The final day brought the season’s last Parallel Sprint, a format synonymous with intensity, unpredictability and emotion.

In the women’s competition, Eriksen confirmed her dominance, taking victory in the final against Carliez to secure her eighth win of the season and comfortably claim the Parallel Sprint Globe. Third went to Taylor (GBR), fourth to up-and-comer Coletta Frick (GER) and fifth to Bourbon (FRA), who had been Eriksen’s closest challenger for the PS Globe going into the final day.

"The story behind winning a Crystal Globe is a whole season of early mornings, cold toes, past experiences and lessons all coming together. And, of course, help and support from team-mates, training buddies and coaches," said Eriksen after Day Three's action.

The men’s race provided one final twist in the title race, France’s Yoann Rostolan prevented Michel from making it a clean sweep by grabbing third spot in an intensely contested day of action - enough to keep him at the top of the Parallel Sprint Crystal Globe standings. Michel himself exited in the last 16, versus Andorra’s Lucas Page.

“Over the last three weeks I’d let things slide a bit in the Overall standings, so going into today with only the Parallel Globe left to fight for the pressure was heavy, but I managed to stay strong mentally and bring it home,” said a delighted and relieved Rostolan, after his first career Globe.

The day also marked an emotional moment for the circuit, with Elie Nabot, Alexis Mosset and Maxime Mosset announcing their retirements, bringing their World Cup careers to a close.

Adding to the excitement, Canada’s Adrian Ball capped a remarkable late-season surge by claiming his first World Cup victory, building on a third place in Pra Loup and second on Day Two here.

“I’d wanted to win the qualis but I only came third, so I had to do it the hard way,” said Ball. “It’s amazing to have done a 3-2-1 like that, ending the season on this much of a high!”

Crystal Globes awarded as season reaches its conclusion

As the dust starts to settle on a thrilling campaign, the Crystal Globes - the ultimate symbol of consistency, resilience and excellence - have found their rightful owners.

Eriksen’s remarkable campaign sees her crowned Overall, Sprint and Parallel Sprint champion, while Carliez claims the Classic Crystal Globe, completing a powerful French-Norwegian rivalry across disciplines.

On the men’s side, Michel’s consistency across all formats earns him the Overall, Sprint and Classic Crystal Globes, while Rostolan’s dynamism in the duels has secured him a coveted Parallel Sprint title.

With dreams realised and new champions crowned, Les Contamines-Montjoie provided a fitting conclusion to a season defined by intensity, progression and unforgettable moments - thanks to all the athletes for this season and for keeping the Telemark dream alive.