Italy's Davide Graz won the men's classic-technique mass start at the German roller-ski championships in Oberhof on 27 September 2026. The 26-year-old from Sappada crossed the line in 25:08.1. In the women's race, Germany's Helen Hoffmann took the win in 23:00.9.
Walther second and German champion
Jakob Walther of Germany finished second, 4.5 seconds behind Graz, which earned him the national title, according to Italian outlet Fondoitalia. Neveitalia spelled his name "Jakob Wather" in its report. Daniel Pedranzini, from Valtellina, completed the podium for Italy, 18.4 seconds back.
Italy's team placed several more racers in the men's top ten:
- 4th Martino Carollo, +19.3 seconds
- 5th Davide Ghio, +31.4 seconds
- 6th Alessandro Chiocchetti, +34.2 seconds
- 8th Marco Pinzani, +50.7 seconds
- 10th Federico Pozzi, +56.2 seconds
German one-two in the women's race
The women's race ended in a German one-two. Hoffmann finished 18.8 seconds clear of Anna Endress, and Italy's Maria Gismondi was third, 34 seconds behind the winner. Two more Italians made the top ten: Nicole Monsorno finished ninth (+1:05.2) and Beatrice Laurent tenth (+1:06.7).
Italian World Cup squad training in Oberhof
The large Italian field is explained by Neveitalia: the World Cup group of Italy's cross-country team had already spent several days at a training camp in Oberhof. The team raced the double mass start at the German championships as part of that training block in Thuringia.
Cross-CountryItaly names 14 cross-country skiers for Grand Prix Sportful in FeltreThe visitors left with Graz's win, Pedranzini's third place and five more top-ten finishes among the men. On the women's side they added Gismondi's podium and two more top-ten results. The men's national title went to Germany's Jakob Walther.
