2026 Olympics | Nordic combined: the big surprise Kristjan Ilves, in the lead after the small jump gundersen

2026 Olympics: Kristjan Ilves’ big shot, Jens Luraas Oftebro ideally placed after the jump

As the Nordic combined event plays out its future at the Olympic Games, every last detail is being scrutinised at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina. Crowds? Large crowds from the small jump on the gundersen on Wednesday 11 February, despite prohibitive prices (€50 to €100). Audiences? With no competition until the top 10 jumps, the combined events were given maximum exposure by the broadcasters. Diversity? Estonia’s Kristjan Ilves was a big hit with the IOC.

The Baltic managed a very good jump (99m) despite poor wind conditions (18.6 compensation points). To everyone’s surprise, the man who had done some good training jumps the day before finished in the lead. Incredulous in the finish area, he struggled to achieve his performance. Neither the Austrians Thomas Rettenegger (2nd, 100 m), Stefan Rettenegger (4th, 99 m) and Johannes Lamparter (6th, 104.5 m), nor the Japanese Ryota Yamamoto (3rd, 102.5 m), nor the reigning Olympic champion, the German Vinzenz Geiger (8th, 98 m) did better.

An open cross-country race

But behind the Estonian, the peloton will start very close, and promises a thrilling long-distance race. Five combined racers will start between 15 and 21 seconds after the leader. Slightly further back, the best cross-country skier on the circuit, Norway’s Jens Luraas Oftebro, will have a clear shot at gold. Taking advantage of favourable wind conditions, he jumped 104m in 7th place and will start just 28 seconds behind at 13:30. His brother Einar Luraas Oftebro will start 4th at 20 seconds, after his jump at 99 m. In 10 km, anything is possible.

The French had a difficult competition, and were unable to reproduce their promising training jumps. Marco Heinis (17th, +58 sec) was limited to 97 m after a late impulse. In less than ideal conditions, Laurent Muhlethaler (23rd, +1 min 26) held back too much and landed at 93m. Lastly, Maël Tyrode (28th, +1 min 50) had a good run-up, but bent his legs too much, dropping back to 88.5m.

The full rankings for the jump over the small hill

The gundersen cross-country skiing start list

• Two disciplines, big lifts, a future in danger… All you need to know about Nordic combined skiing
• Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium: everything you need to know about the Val di Fiemme stadium, which hosts the Nordic combined events at the Milan/Cortina Olympic Games
• Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium: everything you need to know about the venue hosting the Nordic combined events at the Milan/Cortina Olympic Games
• The full Nordic combined programme at the Milan/Cortina Olympic Games
• Why are there no women’s events in Nordic combined?
• “What I miss is being a man”, says Léna Brocard for Nordic Magazine: Nordic combined, still the only Olympic event without women
• “We really need to make the most of it together”: the French Nordic combined team spoke before the start of the Olympic events
• Why Nordic combined is staking its Olympic future on Milan/Cortina