HKR Kitzbühel

Team Tirol Defends Juniors Race Title

21.01.2026

The Juniors Race on the Ganslern provided a thrilling curtain-raiser to the 86th Hahnenkamm Races, setting the first sporting highlight of the week. At the Longines Future Hahnenkamm Champions, Team Tirol successfully defended its title, claiming victory once again – just as they did last year. Second place went to Austria II, with Germany finishing third after taking the lead in the first run. The fastest boy of the day was Finn Neururer from Mutters in Tirol, while Italy’s Hannah Mahlknecht was the fastest girl.

Before the World Cup arrives on the Ganslern slope on Sunday, spectators were treated to a thrilling showdown on the historic hill on Wednesday afternoon. Team Germany took the lead after the first run, but Tirol demonstrated nerves of steel in the second run to overtake their neighbours. In doing so, the Tyroleans replicated their 2025 triumph, when they came from behind in the second run to snatch victory from the USA.

The winning team comprised Lea Tasser (Mayrhofen), Lorena Plankensteiner (Lienz), Anna Steixner (Mieders), Finn Neururer (Mutters), Ruiz Herzig (Gerlos) and Luis Stecher (Leins). Neururer was a member of the winning team in 2025 and was once again the fastest boy on Wednesday. This latest success marks Tirol’s eighth victory in the Juniors Race.

Austria II finished second in the team rankings, with Lea Unger (Bischofshofen), Lena Gösweiner (Spital am Pyhrn), Celine Oberschneider (Zell am See), Linus Leitner (Schröcken), Samuel Thöni (Leins) and David Pacher (Alpbach). Germany ultimately finished third, much to the delight of Amira Federle, Nele Bächle, Lucie Uhl, Toni Sindel, Sylvan Holzheu and Tobias Albl.

Each Junior Race team consists of three girls and three boys. All athletes must complete two slalom runs – even if they do not finish the first run, in which case a penalty time is added. The times of the two best girls and two best boys per team are used to determine the overall ranking. A total of 20,000 euros in prize money is awarded.