Michel and Eriksen on top after Bardonecchia battles, as race for Telemark Crystal Globes intensifies

Bardonecchia (ITA) once again delivered high-stakes Telemark racing as the Italian resort hosted two days of FIS Telemark World Cup action, shortly after staging the Junior World Championships earlier in the week. With Parallel Sprint racing on Day One and a demanding Classic race on Day Two, athletes were tested across both explosive head-to-head duels and endurance-heavy technical skiing.

The stakes were high heading into the weekend. Norway’s Gøril Strøm Eriksen arrived in Italy leading the women’s Overall standings ahead of Jasmin Taylor (GBR), while the men’s Overall race remained finely balanced between Yoann Rostolan (FRA), Nicolas Michel (SUI) and Alexis Page (FRA). By the end of two dramatic days, the Bardonecchia results had shaken up the standings once again, tightening the race for the Crystal Globes as the season enters its decisive phase.

Michel prevails in dramatic Parallel Sprint

Day One’s Parallel Sprint almost did not happen at all. Heavy snowfall during the night and early morning created spectacular winter scenery but also raised serious concerns about whether the course would hold up - particularly around the jump landing.

After a one-hour delay, organizers gave the green light, with the understanding that racing might have to be halted if the packed snow deteriorated. In the end, the course held firm, providing a thrilling demonstration of Telemark resilience and organization - proof that sometimes, as the saying goes, the show must go on.

Despite the pressure of the first-ever senior World Cup event held in Bardonecchia, the athletes responded with nerves of steel.

On the men’s side, Nicolas Michel (SUI) produced a commanding display to claim victory. After a hesitant start to the day, Michel adopted a high-risk strategy in the Round of 16, a gamble that paid off as he gathered momentum through the knockout rounds.

By the final, Michel looked fully in control, defeating Charly Petex (FRA) to secure the win. Fellow Swiss skier Romain Beney claimed third place after overcoming Yoann Rostolan (FRA) in the small final.

In the women’s event, Gøril Strøm Eriksen (NOR) delivered a performance of complete authority. The Norwegian looked comfortable throughout the day, excelling in every phase of the race but particularly in the Nordic skating section.

Eriksen secured victory ahead of Camille Bourbon (FRA), while Augustine Carliez (FRA) edged out Jasmin Taylor (GBR) in the small final to claim third. Among the standout performances of the day was Zuzanna Stachowska (POL), the young athlete claiming her first top-ten World Cup finish despite limited opportunities to compete on the WC circuit.

"I am incredibly happy to secure my first World Cup Top 8! Parallel Sprint is always a high-intensity battle where every run is a head-to-head fight," said Stachowska. "I won my first run, which was a great confidence boost, and then had a hard battle against the overall race winner. Even though it was a tough fight, I'm just glad I finished it with a smile on my face."

Carliez conquers brutal Classic test

If Day One demanded adaptability, Day Two’s Classic race demanded pure endurance.

After two days of snowfall, the course - set by Swiss coach Erwan Faivre - proved extremely challenging. With numerous rhythm changes, heavy terrain variations and a particularly punishing jump section, the race was widely described by experts as one of the toughest Classic events seen in several years.

The technical difficulty was evident in the number of jump penalties accumulated throughout the field, highlighting how unforgiving the course was even for the sport’s elite.

In the women’s race, Carliez (FRA) once again demonstrated why she is currently leading the race for the Classic Crystal Globe. Building on her Classic victory in Ål, Norway, the French skier delivered another composed and gutsy performance to take the win.

Carliez crossed the line ahead of Eriksen (NOR), while Taylor (GBR) completed the podium in third. The women’s race also saw another strong showing from Stachowska (POL), who followed up her Parallel Sprint result with a second top-ten finish.

Alveberg surprises in men’s Classic

The men’s Classic race produced one of the biggest surprises of the weekend, as Jacob Benjamin Alveberg (NOR) stormed to victory with a confident and intelligent performance to secure his second career World Cup win.

He finished ahead of experienced Swiss racer Michel, who added another podium to his tally, while Sweden’s Alvin Noaksson took third place. The young Swede had only days earlier celebrated a gold medal in the Junior World Championships’ Classic race at the same venue, making his first World Cup podium even more impressive.

Crystal Globe races heating up

The Bardonecchia results have had a major impact on the Crystal Globe standings as the Telemark World Cup season approaches its final stretch.

In the women’s rankings, Gøril Strøm Eriksen continues to lead the Overall, Sprint and Parallel Sprint standings, while also sitting second behind Augustine Carliez in the Classic classification - setting up a fascinating battle in the remaining races.

On the men’s side, Nicolas Michel has reclaimed the lead in the Overall standings, while also topping the Sprint and Classic rankings. However, the fight remains far from settled, with Yoann Rostolan maintaining the advantage in the Parallel Sprint standings.

With Pra Loup (FRA) on 19-21 March and Les Contamines Montojoies (FRA) on 26-28 March the only remaining stops on this season’s World Cup circuit, results in Bardonecchia ensured that the races for Telemark’s Crystal Globes remain wide open - and full of drama.