After a two-year hiatus, Goms is back on the international cross-country skiing stage and is one of the venues for this year's Coop FIS Cross-Country World Cup. However, the snow-sure Valais high valley is not just a stronghold for professional cross-country skiing and biathlon, but also has a lot to offer amateur cross-country skiers.
To round off the World Cup weekend, the 20 km classic mass start was on the program on Sunday. Before the start, the roles of the favorites only seemed to be clearly distributed among the men. The strong Norwegian team once again showed its dominance in Goms. They took the first seven places. A trio led by Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Emil Iversen and Harald Oestberg Amundsen quickly pulled away. At the halfway point, they were 13 seconds ahead of the chasing pack. In the last of the four laps, they were able to pull away by 38 seconds. It was not a question of if, but when Klaebo would start the attack. The high-flyer was able to pull away by 16 seconds before the final climb and won again in front of Iversen and Amundsen. Beda Klee landed an exploit. Supported by the Swiss crowd, he took 10th place. Nicola Wigger was also over the moon in 21st place, while Cyrill Fähndrich finished in 25th place. Candide Pralong from Valais finished in 31st place.
In the women's race, a preliminary decision emerged halfway through the race. A group of six with overall leader Jessie Diggins distanced the rest of the field. The constellation promised an exciting finish, but Diggins had to concede defeat at the finish line, 0.9 seconds behind Johanna Matintalo. For the Finn, this meant her first ever World Cup victory after a long wait. Third place went to Astrid Oeyre Slind, who had already finished on the podium in the team event on Friday. Nadine Fähndrich put in another strong performance. After coming third on Saturday, she finished 9th over the 20 km, 1.16 minutes behind the winner. 19th place for Anja Weber and 21st place for Marina Kaelin rounded off the good Swiss result.
A successful weekend came to an end with the mass start. On Sunday, another 4,000 spectators made the pilgrimage to the Nordic center. Once again, around 10,000 spectators watched the competitions. An exuberant atmosphere, good weather and satisfied athletes and teams allowed those responsible to draw a positive initial conclusion.
International Gommerlauf
The International Gommerlauf, a traditional cross-country skiing event for the general public, is firmly anchored in the event calendar and will take place for the 54th time on February 21 & 22, 2026. In addition to the "Gommer Classic", the "Gommerlauf free technique" and the "Gommer taster run" are on the competition program on Saturday. The International Gommerlauf Marathon and the Mini Gommerlauf take place on Sunday. The International Gommer Ski Marathon over 42 kilometers is one of the most ambitious and attractive fun runs in the Alps.
A moving grandstand makes it possible to follow the International Gommer Ski Marathon on Sunday in a unique way. The special train of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway offers passengers the opportunity to be close to the action from the train and follow the runners along the course.
And once again this year, spectators will have the opportunity to follow the marathon live on Sunday on Kanal9 or Swiss Sport TV. However, it is definitely worth following the races live on site, as there will also be a varied supporting program this year. In addition to live music on Saturday, Air Zermatt will be on site throughout the entire event weekend with a helicopter that visitors can admire at close quarters. Meanwhile, the Gommer Village invites visitors to enjoy and linger with a variety of offers. The festival restaurant in the start and finish area will provide plenty of refreshments. And the youngest guests won't miss out either: children's entertainment on Saturday and face painting in the Goms Tourismus tent on Sunday. The supporting program promises the best entertainment for the whole family and makes the Gommerlauf an unforgettable cross-country skiing experience.
https://www.goms.ch/gommerlauf
Special Olympics (cross-country skiing)
The Special Olympics cross-country skiing competitions for people with disabilities take place one week after the International Gommerlauf. On Sunday, 1 March 2026, athletes from all over Switzerland will compete against each other over distances of 500 meters, one, three and six kilometers at the Goms Nordic Centre. In the morning, the group divisions for the finals will be determined in qualifying races.
https:// www.goms.ch/gommerlauf/special-olympics
Alpine Cup Biathlon Final
At the end of the winter season, the top biathlon athletes in the Alpine region will return to Goms: from 11 to 15 March 2026, the Goms Nordic Center will be the venue for the Alpine Cup Final - a sporting highlight with international flair and competitions at the highest level.
Spectators can look forward to exciting races, strong athletes and a unique atmosphere in the snow-covered Goms mountain landscape. Perfectly groomed trails, modern facilities and a sports-loving region create the best conditions for participants and fans.
https://www.goms.ch/event/alpencup-final
Images from the 3rd World Cup race day:
https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/5a478c59-23ed-45ae-8ac7-2346d33f996b
Contact World Cup: medien@weltcup-goms.ch
Contact destination: maria-sol.burgener@goms.ch
To round off the World Cup weekend, the 20 km classic mass start was on the program on Sunday. Before the start, the roles of the favorites only seemed to be clearly distributed among the men. The strong Norwegian team once again showed its dominance in Goms. They took the first seven places. A trio led by Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Emil Iversen and Harald Oestberg Amundsen quickly pulled away. At the halfway point, they were 13 seconds ahead of the chasing pack. In the last of the four laps, they were able to pull away by 38 seconds. It was not a question of if, but when Klaebo would start the attack. The high-flyer was able to pull away by 16 seconds before the final climb and won again in front of Iversen and Amundsen. Beda Klee landed an exploit. Supported by the Swiss crowd, he took 10th place. Nicola Wigger was also over the moon in 21st place, while Cyrill Fähndrich finished in 25th place. Candide Pralong from Valais finished in 31st place.
In the women's race, a preliminary decision emerged halfway through the race. A group of six with overall leader Jessie Diggins distanced the rest of the field. The constellation promised an exciting finish, but Diggins had to concede defeat at the finish line, 0.9 seconds behind Johanna Matintalo. For the Finn, this meant her first ever World Cup victory after a long wait. Third place went to Astrid Oeyre Slind, who had already finished on the podium in the team event on Friday. Nadine Fähndrich put in another strong performance. After coming third on Saturday, she finished 9th over the 20 km, 1.16 minutes behind the winner. 19th place for Anja Weber and 21st place for Marina Kaelin rounded off the good Swiss result.
A successful weekend came to an end with the mass start. On Sunday, another 4,000 spectators made the pilgrimage to the Nordic center. Once again, around 10,000 spectators watched the competitions. An exuberant atmosphere, good weather and satisfied athletes and teams allowed those responsible to draw a positive initial conclusion.
GOMS - AFTER THE CROSS-COUNTRY SKI CUP IS BEFORE THE NEXT RACES
International Gommerlauf
The International Gommerlauf, a traditional cross-country skiing event for the general public, is firmly anchored in the event calendar and will take place for the 54th time on February 21 & 22, 2026. In addition to the "Gommer Classic", the "Gommerlauf free technique" and the "Gommer taster run" are on the competition program on Saturday. The International Gommerlauf Marathon and the Mini Gommerlauf take place on Sunday. The International Gommer Ski Marathon over 42 kilometers is one of the most ambitious and attractive fun runs in the Alps.
A moving grandstand makes it possible to follow the International Gommer Ski Marathon on Sunday in a unique way. The special train of the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway offers passengers the opportunity to be close to the action from the train and follow the runners along the course.
And once again this year, spectators will have the opportunity to follow the marathon live on Sunday on Kanal9 or Swiss Sport TV. However, it is definitely worth following the races live on site, as there will also be a varied supporting program this year. In addition to live music on Saturday, Air Zermatt will be on site throughout the entire event weekend with a helicopter that visitors can admire at close quarters. Meanwhile, the Gommer Village invites visitors to enjoy and linger with a variety of offers. The festival restaurant in the start and finish area will provide plenty of refreshments. And the youngest guests won't miss out either: children's entertainment on Saturday and face painting in the Goms Tourismus tent on Sunday. The supporting program promises the best entertainment for the whole family and makes the Gommerlauf an unforgettable cross-country skiing experience.
https://www.goms.ch/gommerlauf
Special Olympics (cross-country skiing)
The Special Olympics cross-country skiing competitions for people with disabilities take place one week after the International Gommerlauf. On Sunday, 1 March 2026, athletes from all over Switzerland will compete against each other over distances of 500 meters, one, three and six kilometers at the Goms Nordic Centre. In the morning, the group divisions for the finals will be determined in qualifying races.
https:// www.goms.ch/gommerlauf/special-olympics
Alpine Cup Biathlon Final
At the end of the winter season, the top biathlon athletes in the Alpine region will return to Goms: from 11 to 15 March 2026, the Goms Nordic Center will be the venue for the Alpine Cup Final - a sporting highlight with international flair and competitions at the highest level.
Spectators can look forward to exciting races, strong athletes and a unique atmosphere in the snow-covered Goms mountain landscape. Perfectly groomed trails, modern facilities and a sports-loving region create the best conditions for participants and fans.
https://www.goms.ch/event/alpencup-final
Images from the 3rd World Cup race day:
https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/5a478c59-23ed-45ae-8ac7-2346d33f996b
Contact World Cup: medien@weltcup-goms.ch
Contact destination: maria-sol.burgener@goms.ch