Oftebro pips Lamparter in thrilling Oberhof Compact
Jan 17, 2026·Nordic Combined
Jens Luraas Oftebro (NOR) timed his finish to perfection to take his first victory of the Viessmann FIS Nordic Combined World Cup season in a fiercely contested Compact in Oberhof.
Oftebro set the platform for his eighth individual World Cup win overall with a 97.0m jump to finish fourth on the HS100 hill, leaving him 17 seconds behind Franz-Josef Rehrl, who led an Austrian one-two-three ahead of the Rettenneger brothers Thomas and Stefan.
Having had to make up much larger deficits recently, Oftebro – who leads the Best Skier rankings but finished fourth in the last three events – was able to pace himself over the 7.5km cross-country course.
He took the lead with 3km left before allowing both Retteneggers to pass him briefly at the end of the second 2.5km loop.
But Oftebro, with overall leader Johannes Lamparter (AUT) and his brother Einar Luraas Oftebro (NOR) for company, forged a leading group of four heading into the final 500m, with Stefan Rettenegger at the front.
But the Austrian couldn’t resist the speed of Oftebro (below, left)), who hit the accelerator to forge clear and win in 17:51.6, 1.7 seconds ahead of Lamparter in second and 1.9secs clear of Einar Luraas Oftebro, who shared a World Cup podium with his brother for the first time.
“It was a really nice day," said Oftebro, 25, after his first win since a Compact in February last year in Seefeld, Austria.
"I was really happy with my jump and that made it a bit easier at the beginning [of the cross-country], not just going through the gas from the start. I felt strong and confident that I could the sprint, even though my brother was close and he is normally a bit faster, but I think the opening for him was a bit harder.
It was another significant moment for elder brother Einar, who after his first individual World Cup podium and then first victory in Otepää, again showed his strength in the tracks to rise from eighth at the start, 33 seconds back, up to third place, his third podium in four events.
“This is what we have worked for our whole lives since we were kids,” said the 27-year-old, who only returned to the circuit last season after nearly two years out with injury. “I hoped I could beat Lamparter in the sprint and we could be one-two, but one and three is still our ‘total PB’ so we are really happy.”
Lamparter was happy enough with second, his seventh podium in 10 events so far which extended his lead in the overall standings to 190 points over Julian Schmid (GER) - who suffered with the pace after trying to make up a 42-second deficit early on, finishing ninth – and 197 over Thomas Rettenegger, who came home sixth.
“We have been in Oberhof a lot for training camps but it was really nice to be back competing here – a lovely day, really nice spectators and perfect weather,” said Lamparter.
Stefan Rettenegger, still chasing a first individual World Cup win, finished fourth, 3.1 seconds back, ahead of Johannes Rydzek (GER) in fifth and brother Thomas.
Rehrl edges Rettenegger on hill
Earlier on the Hans-Renner hill, Austria again showed their strength in depth with the top three performances and five of the top seven.
Jiri Konvalinka (CZE) continued his strong jumping form from Otepää to set the early marker with a 94.5m effort for 125.7 points.
Richard Stenzel (GER) topped that with 95.5m (128.7) but Ryota Yamamoto (JPN), going next, delivered another superb jump of 98.0m to take over with 132.3 points.
Paul Walcher (AUT) impressed with 97.5m (131.3) and Kristjan Ilves (EST) put himself in the podium mix with a 97.0m jump (129.8).
But Rehrl (below) flew even further – 98.5m – to take over at the top with 138.8 points, which ultimately proved enough for victory on the hill.
“It is good for the soul,” Rehrl said. “I am very happy with my performance after some tough weekends over the last two competitions.”
But two of the strongest skiers - Stefan Rettenegger (97.0m for 135.1 points) and Jens Luraas Oftebro (97.0m, 132.8) – both delivered on the hill, leaving themselves 12 and 17 seconds back respectively.
Thomas Rettenegger, who won Friday’s PCR, matched Rehrl’s 98.5m jump as the longest of the men’s competition, but with only 2.8 points of wind compensation compared to Rehrl’s 6.8, had to settle for second place on 135.3 points.
Lamparter, jumping last, produced a 96.0m jump for 131.9 points, leaving the Yellow Bib holder 26 seconds back in sixth heading to the cross-country, where he ate up the ground in no time.
The men will also compete in a Gundersen in Oberhof on Sunday, with the jumping scheduled to start at 09:15 CET and the cross-country at 15:45.
