Thrilling battles unfold in Carezza and Melchsee Frutt as Telemark World Cup continues

The second and third rounds of the Telemark World Cup brought high-paced action to Carezza (ITA, 15-16 January) and Melchsee Frutt (SUI, 24-25 January), showcasing intense battles across both the Sprint and Parallel Sprint disciplines.

Taylor and Loeken lead the charge in overall standings

In the women’s field, Jasmin Taylor (GBR) maintained her strong form, reinforcing her position as the overall leader. She was closely followed by Argeline Tan Bouquet (FRA), Augustine Carliez (FRA), and Goril Strøm Eriksen (NOR).

On the men’s side, the season is shaping up to be a tight contest between Norway, Switzerland, and France. Trym Nygaard Loeken (NOR) holds the overall lead, with Nicolas Michel (SUI) making a powerful comeback following injury. Yoann Rostolan (FRA) leads the French charge, currently sitting in third place overall.

Carezza World Cup – Sprint specialists shine

Carezza set the stage for two exhilarating Sprint races, mirroring the season opener in Pinzolo. A discipline that demands both speed and precision, it provided an ideal challenge for the athletes.

In the women’s competition, Jasmin Taylor (GBR) claimed victory in the first Sprint ahead of Laly Chaucheprat (FRA, 2nd) and Goril Strøm Eriksen (NOR, 3rd). The second race saw a new winner, with Argeline Tan Bouquet (FRA) securing the top spot, followed by Taylor (2nd) and Augustine Carliez (FRA, 3rd). Junior talent Lenaïg Mansart (FRA) impressed with a career-best sixth-place finish.

In the men’s field, Charly Petex (FRA) took the first Sprint win, edging out Loeken (NOR, 2nd) and Michel (SUI, 3rd). Local favorite Raphael Mahlknecht (ITA) finished fifth, while 2024 World Cup winner Elie Nabot (FRA) struggled to find his rhythm, ending in seventh. The second Sprint saw Loeken (NOR) take control, securing victory ahead of Michel (2nd) and Théo Sillon (FRA, 3rd). Mahlknecht once again finished fifth, maintaining a strong home performance.

Melchsee Frutt – Parallel Sprint intensity unfolds

Since 2021, Melchsee Frutt has been the go-to venue for launching the Parallel Sprint season, a discipline known for its head-to-head format and relentless intensity.

The women’s races saw Taylor (GBR) claim the first win, followed by Tan Bouquet (FRA, 2nd) and Carliez (FRA, 3rd). The second race brought a shake-up, with Eriksen (NOR) taking the victory ahead of Tan Bouquet (2nd) and Carliez (3rd). Bourbon (FRA, 4th) and Taylor (5th) rounded out the top five, while Kessler (GER, 6th) achieved his best World Cup result of the season.

In the men’s category, Noé Claye (FRA) secured the opening win, outpacing Loeken (NOR, 2nd), Nabot (FRA, 3rd), Rostolan (FRA, 4th), Alexi Mosset (FRA, 5th), and Sillon (FRA, 6th). On day two, Loeken (NOR) was in unbeatable form, claiming victory ahead of Michel (SUI, 2nd) and Nabot (3rd). Mahlknecht (ITA, 4th) and Page (FRA, 5th) followed, while junior racer Maximilian Walcher (AUT) fought hard against his experienced rivals to finish sixth.

With Loeken consistently landing on the podium and Michel demonstrating remarkable strength following two knee injuries, the race for the overall title is heating up. Nabot, with two podium finishes, is still in contention but will need a strong second half of the season to challenge Loeken’s dominance.

Swiss National Championships follow World Cup action

Following the World Cup races, Melchsee Frutt hosted the Swiss National Championships, where Béatrice Zimmermann and Nicolas Michel were crowned champions. In the junior category, Saskia Hermann and Silvan Walser took the titles.

The Telemark World Cup now moves to Trillevallen, Sweden, where the next round of competition will take place from 7 to 8 February.