As the ski jumping and Nordic combined World Cup season begins, we present to you the key moments of winter and the ambitions of the Blues.
In one week, the ski jumping and then the Nordic combined will see their World Cup begin. From this weekend, jumpers begin the competition in Lillehammer and the combined begins its winter in less than 10 days on the snowy landscapes of Ruka. The opportunity to present the season in these two Nordic ski disciplines.
The Blues of the jump continue their evolution
The signs are good, we could see the French ski jumping team raise their performance again this season. After the arrival at the forefront of Joséphine Pagnier (2 victories and wearing the yellow bib), it came time for confirmation for the young Jurassian. In legs on the summer circuit, she is now among the best on the planet. His 7th place in the world last year could still be improved.
In his wake, the young Blues are starting to push. Valentin Foubert was amazing at the Courchevel Grand Prix with two podiums, Lilou Zepchi took 6th place in Rasnov, despite a dense field. The French team itself is becoming denser, there will be six of them in Lillehammer with the twins Emma and Jules Chervet as well as Ari Repellin and Enzo Milesi. This youth – Joséphine Pagnier is the oldest at 22 years and 5 months – is making full progress. This season will be a crucial stage, one year before the Games.
Will Norway still dominate the Nordic combined?
In Nordic combined, Norway leaves only the crumbs. Jarl Magnus Riiber took over his possession last season after leaving the big globe to the Austrian Johannes Lamparter in 2023. The 27-year-old Norwegian is flying over the discipline and does not yet seem ready to give up control.
It is even more glaring among women with a clear domination of the Scandinavians. Ida Marie Hagen, Gyda Westvold Hansen and Mari Leinan Lund dominated the entire last season. Only the Germans with their excellent cross-country skier Nathalie Armbruster or Haruka Kasai tickled them at times. This year again, it seems complicated to see another country create domination in the discipline.
New podium for the French team?
Can the Blues return to the podium in the Nordic Combined World Cup? The record has been meager since Jason Lamy-Chpuis’ last victory, at the end of 2014. 8 French podiums, individual and team. The last one was not obtained last season but in March 2023, during a duo event. Léna Brocard is still chasing first for France, the Dauphinoise came closer with a 4th place in Schonach a few months ago. Laurent Muhlethaler, Matteo Baud and Marco Heinis will try to get on a podium during the winter.
For the Tour, the locals against Kobayashi
A winter must-see, the Four Hills Tour serves as a New Year’s competition every year. Winning on the “Vier Schanzen” is an enormous prestige that only the best jumpers achieve. Ryoyu Kobayashi has been the man of the Tour in recent years. The Japanese has won the golden eagle given to the winner three times, including once with the Grand Slam. He claims victory again in 2024-2025 but other jumpers want to return to the summits.
Germany has been waiting for this for 22 years and the success of Sven Hannawald. Despite 9 podiums over the last two decades, the Germans are stuck on first place. Andreas Wellinger is a strong contender this year. Austria is also patient. Since his 7 titles between 2009 and 2015, nothing more. Stefan Kraft achieved world and Olympic titles, the World Cup overall but not the Tour. Maybe for this winter.
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Trondheim hosts the Nordic Ski Worlds
This pre-Olympic season is a world championship season. The Nordic Ski Worlds will take place in Trondheim between February 27 and March 8. Women’s ski jumping has become more dense and it is difficult to really come up with a name. The Slovenians Ema Klinec and Nika Prevc will be strong, but also the Japanese Yuki Ito and Sara Takanashi. Two years ago, Canadian Alexandria Loutitt was crowned at just 19 years old. Let’s not forget the Norwegians Opseth and Kvandal and, of course, Joséphine Pagnier for France.
Among the men, the same names as for the Tour of the four springboards return. Ryoyu Kobayashi has never been a world champion, this would be the perfect opportunity. The Norwegians, at home, will want to shine and bring home medals. The Austrians and Germans also have every chance, but the season will tell us who the big favorites will be since these Worlds are located at the end of winter.
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As previously said, it will be difficult to dislodge Norway from first place, including at the world championships. Women seem invincible, the title could be played between Gyda Westvold Hansen and Ida Marie Hagen, better cross-country skier than the first mentioned. On the men’s side, Riiber will face his rival Johannes Lamparter, without forgetting Stefan Rettenegger, Kristjan Ilves but also Joergen Graabak. The Germans Geiger, Faisst and Rydzek will also be on the lookout.
No pre-Olympic test this winter
Usually, one year before the Games, a test competition is organized on the future Olympic site to test the installations and take initial benchmarks. This will not be the case this year for ski jumping and Nordic combined. The reason? The Predazzo ski jump is still under renovation and the timing is too tight for it to be ready this winter. The athletes will find out when the time comes, for the Olympic Games in Milan – Cortina, in February 2026.
The Lillehammer World Cup program
November 22
Mixed team event (4:15 p.m.)
November 23
Qualifications and large hill finals for men (4 p.m.) and women (12:30 p.m.)
November 24
Qualifications and large hill finals for men (4 p.m.) and women (12:30 p.m.)
Ruka’s World Cup schedule
November 29
Men’s individual compact large hill (11:25 a.m.; 3 p.m.)
November 30th
Gundersen men’s large hill (10:15 a.m.; 2:15 p.m.)
December 1
Individual mass start men’s large hill (8:30 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.)
