FIS | Armbruster seals overall title as Westvold Hansen claims first World Cup win of season

Nathalie Armbruster became the first German woman to claim an overall Viessmann FIS World Cup title as Gyda Westvold Hansen (NOR) continued her recent renaissance by claiming her first individual World Cup victory in over 13 months in Oslo.

Armbruster started the Gundersen cross-country 2:30 behind in 13th position after a lacklustre jump as the women competed on a large hill in a World Cup competition for the first time.

But the 19-year-old produced a big performance in the tracks, out-sprinting Yuna Kasai (JPN) on the line to finish sixth.

The 55 points she collected were enough to put her 108 points clear of Ida Marie Hagen (NOR), who finished third, in the overall standings, meaning she clinched the Crystal Globe ahead of Sunday’s Compact, the final event of the women’s season.

Although Hagen won the first seven competitions, her hopes of defending her overall crown were hit by a disqualification for a suit infringement in Seefeld (AUT) – costing her points in two competitions – and a fall in Otepää (EST).

Armbruster took full advantage to take her first two World Cup wins in Seefeld before beating Hagen in the tracks for the first time in the Otepää Compact for her third victory.

Westvold Hansen started the cross-country in Oslo in second place, 28 seconds behind teenage compatriot Ingrid Laate who, as she did in Trondheim, won the ski jumping round with a stunning performance on the HS134 hill.

But the two-time overall champion, who won two golds and a silver at the World Championships in Trondheim, made up nearly 25 seconds inside the first 0.8km and caught the 17-year-old world junior champion shortly afterwards.

She stretched her lead to 13.2 seconds by 1.6km and kept the hammer down, powering away to win in 13:46.7, 53 seconds clear of Lisa Hirner (AUT), who finished second, holding off a late charge from Hagen, who took the final podium spot.

It was Westvold Hansen’s 22nd individual World Cup win, and her first since 9 February last year in Otepää (EST).

Although she has long been out of title contention, backing up her superb performances in Trondheim served notice that she will likely be a contender again next season.

“It was a perfect day and so cool to be back on top in this big hill competition,” she said. “It is the result of many training hours. Just training, sleeping and eating – that has been my life for the last couple of months."