Galtür Nordic Volumes: DSV athletes dominate the Cross Country Climb.

Since 2018, Galtür has been the centre of the cross-country skiing world year after year. Especially this year from 21 to 23 March 2024, because in addition to overall World Cup winner Johannes Lamparter, German Olympic champion Katharina Hennig and runner-up Laura Gimmler were also there! For health reasons, local cross-country stars Teresa Stadlober and Mika Vermeulen were only there as spectators.

After a long World Cup season, the cross-country year also ended in Austria in Galtür, in the Paznaun - Ischgl tourist region, with the Galtür Nordic Volumes. After the Nordic Sprint Race on Thursday, the Cross Country Climb got down to business on Saturday. The fastest athlete of the day was German runner-up Laura Gimmler, who narrowly came out on top ahead of Olympic champion Katharina Hennig (GER). Florian Notz, another German athlete, also won the men's event. In the absence of local World Cup stars Teresa Stadlober and Mika Vermeulen, both of whom were suffering from health problems, Carinthian Anna Juppe (ASKÖ Villach) and East Tyrolean Tobias Ganner (Union Obertilliach) secured the Austrian championship titles.

This year, over 400 participants found perfect cross-country skiing conditions in a dreamlike mountain landscape at the Cross Country Climb. There were two distances through the picturesque Vermunt up to the Bielerhöhe. The HARD variant covered 26.5 kilometres and 614 vertical metres, while the LIGHT variant covered 13.3 kilometres and 201 vertical metres.

Duel between the German cross-country stars

Laura Gimmler and Katharina Hennig dueled from the start in the women's race over the long distance. When Gimmler attacked shortly before the finish, Hennig was unable to keep up. Sophie Lechner, another DSV athlete, finished third, followed immediately behind by Anna Juppe as the best Austrian. After the race, she was more than satisfied with 4th place and the Austrian championship title: "As a biathlete, I was already delighted with 3rd place on Thursday and now the championship title. The season couldn't end any better," said Juppe.

Ganner only beaten by Notz

Victory in the men's race also went to Germany. But it was close, as the young East Tyrolean Tobias Ganner and Benjamin Moser kept up with Florian Notz for a long time. Notz was unable to break away on the climb to the Bielerhöhe, but on the last two small climbs he made the difference. Tobias Ganner from Obertilliach, who finished in second place, was very strong. "It was really cool that I kept up so well. I lacked a bit of strength at the end. But second place is a top result," summarised Tobias Ganner. Sprint specialist Benjamin Moser followed up his victory on Thursday with another podium finish in 3rd place.

The results

events.racetime.pro/en/event/944/results

Results ÖM: events.racetime.pro/en/event/944/competition/6554/results

Results GER: events.racetime.pro/en/event/944/competition/6550/results

Exciting duels between sprinters & young athletes

On Thursday 21st March, the 5th edition of the Galtür Nordic Sprint Race took place in the afternoon. The spectacular course in Galtür led over two laps of 1,050 metres each. The athletes qualify for the next rounds on a knockout principle. In the women's event, the German Coletta Rydzek, sister of Nordic combined athlete Johannes, narrowly beat World Cup athlete Laura Gimmler. Third place went to ÖSV biathlete Anna Juppe. In the men's event, victory went to Tyrolean local hero Benjamin Moser, who came a fantastic 12th at last week's World Cup final. "I'm totally happy that I was able to defend my title from last year. A big respect to the organisers for putting the course together like this. The conditions were perfect." Michael Föttinger from Salzburg came in second behind Moser. Markus Bauer from Germany took third place on the podium.

On Friday, 205 children and young people took part in the Kids Race in Galtür, supported by Raiffeisen Arlberg Silvretta. And that's not all; before the race, the promising young athletes were introduced to the Nordic popular sport at the cross-country skiing camp specially designed for children, including a fun course and training with pros from the Austrian cross-country skiing scene.

In addition to the races, cross-country skiing enthusiasts were able to inspect and test the latest equipment in the Expo Area from Thursday to Saturday, including equipment from the tourism association's partners such as Fischer Sports, LEKI and gloryfy unbreakable.

Positive balance

The Galtür Nordic Volumes was once again one of the sporting highlights of the season. TVB Chairman Alexander von der Thannen: "Cross-country skiing is becoming more and more popular, even if alpine skiing is still the number one winter tourism activity. But our guests are looking for sporting alternatives and with the Ischgl & Galtür cross-country skiing region, we offer these with 77 kilometres of trails and guaranteed snow until April." Co-organiser SC Silvretta Galtür, under the direction of Andreas Kathrein, said: "Year after year, we are particularly pleased to welcome numerous top athletes as well as amateur skiers to the end of the season. We look forward to seeing you again next year in Galtür."