Austria's Anna Brandner and Germany's Felix Brieden won the opening Gundersen events of the FESA Cup weekend in Liberec, Czech Republic, on Saturday. Brandner took the women's HS100/5 km and Brieden the men's HS100/10 km. Liberec is hosting the second round of the FESA Summer Nordic Combined Cup this weekend, and Saturday's competition was the first on the programme.
Jeantet runner-up behind Brandner
The jumping took place on the normal hill (HS100) and the cross-country leg was raced on roller skis. Nordic Magazine described Brandner's win as a runaway victory. France's Loa Jeantet was second after the jump and stayed there, setting the fastest roller-ski time to finish on the podium. The available reports give no time gaps.
Two more French athletes made the top ten: Laly Pingat was seventh and Anaëlle Paris tenth. France had selected six athletes in total for Liberec.
Anna Senoner was the only Italian woman in the race. According to Fondoitalia, the athlete from Val Gardena, born in 2007, finished 13th on Saturday.
Brieden wins by a huge margin
The men's race had a clear winner as well: Nordic Magazine reported that Brieden won "by a huge margin". No Italian men were entered.
Nordic CombinedRettenegger Leads Oberstdorf Reserve Round Ahead of Wednesday GundersenFor France, Gaby Vandel finished 25th and Joseph Issartel 28th, while Simon Pagnier did not start the roller-ski pursuit.
Saturday's results at a glance
- Women, Gundersen HS100/5 km: 1. Anna Brandner (AUT), 2. Loa Jeantet (FRA), 7. Laly Pingat (FRA), 10. Anaëlle Paris (FRA), 13. Anna Senoner (ITA)
- Men, Gundersen HS100/10 km: 1. Felix Brieden (GER), 25. Gaby Vandel (FRA), 28. Joseph Issartel (FRA); Simon Pagnier (FRA) did not start the roller-ski pursuit
