Olympic Games 2026 | Nordic combined: Marco Heinis in the top 10 after jumping the Gundersen large hill, Ryota Yamamoto in the lead

2026 Olympics: most of the favourites took part in the jump off the Gundersen ski jump

The favourites were there on the big hill in Predazzo (Italy). Austrian World Cup leader Johannes Lamparter took second place in the jumping competition at the Milan/Cortina Olympic Games on Tuesday 17 February. He will start the long jump (at 1.45pm) just eight seconds behind the first place finisher, Japan’s Ryota Yamamoto.

Norwegian runner-up Jens Luraas Oftebro will start just 22 seconds behind (5th). The third cross-country skier on the circuit, Norway’s Andreas Skoglund, will also be in a good position, just 16 seconds behind (3rd). Austrian Thomas Rettenegger (4th, +18 sec), Finns Ilkka Herola (7th, +32 sec) and Eero Hirvonen (8th, +43 sec) and Norwegian Einar Luraas Oftebro (9th, +44 sec) also started well. These narrow gaps between the medal contenders augur well for a host of possible scenarios in the 10km cross-country race.

The Germans in trouble, Marco Heinis had to deal with a wind at his back

On the other hand, some of the big names had a difficult competition, starting with the Germans. In great need of results since Seefeld (Austria), Julian Schmid only started 16th at 1 min 35. His compatriot Johannes Rydzek was hardly better placed (15th, +1 min 23). Austrian Stefan Rettenegger also disappointed, and is outside the top 10 (11th, +1 min 08).

After three top 5 finishes in training, Frenchman Marco Heinis jumped 10th, despite a tailwind. “I’m not going to blame everything on the wind conditions, which changed afterwards, but they didn’t help me. I didn’t make many mistakes on the springboard,” he commented on France 2.

He will start with 1 min 05 to go, and will be the first Frenchman. His compatriot Laurent Muhlethaler was 17th and will start at 1 min 38. Finally, Maël Tyrode will start 24th, at 2 min 06.

The full rankings for the big jump

The start list for the cross-country ski pursuit (10 km)

• Two disciplines, big lifts, a future in danger… Everything you need to know about Nordic combined skiing
• Why are there no women’s events in Nordic combined?
• Jens Luraas Oftebro Olympic champion in the small springboard gundersen after a boss’s race
• 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
• The medals table and the full list of medals won at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Olympic Games