Tommaso Giacomel’s star shined brightest at the Italian Summer Championships this past weekend at the Antholz 2026 Olympic Venue. 2024 IBU Blue Bib titlist Giacomel, sixth in the 2025 World Cup Total Score was at the top of his game, taking Sprint/Pursuit Gold medals by wide margins.

Giacomel Duels Hofer

With Italian female stars Lisa Vittozzi and Dorothea Wierer not competing, Giacomel provided the star power. In Saturday’s sprint, Giacomel dueled 35-year-old Lukas Hofer; Giacomel, with one penalty, topped the veteran with two penalties, 26:10 to 26:31.1. Finland’s Olli Hiidensalo shot clean in third, 7 seconds behind Hofer. Marco Barale shot clean for Italian Bronze.

Giacomel, despite three penalties, dominated Sunday’s pursuit, going wire-to-wire unchallenged, finishing 52.5 seconds ahead of Hiidensalo, with two penalties. Hiidensalo’s teammate Oto Invenius, with two penalties finished third1:00.4 back. Barale and Daniele Cappellari took the Italian Silver and Bronze medals.

Two Medals for Auchentaller

21-year-old Italian junior Birgit Schoelzhorn and Hannah Auchentaller shot clean in the Women’s Sprint, won by Schoelzhorn in 23:33.1, 10 seconds ahead of Auchentaller. Finnish star Suvi Minkkinen, with a single penalty, finished third, another 10 seconds back. Rebecca Passler, fifth and Samuela Comola, eighth won the Italian Silver and Bronze medals. Passler rebounded in the pursuit, missing a single shot, 22.6 seconds faster than Minkkinen with three penalties. Austrian Anna Gandler jumped from ninth in the sprint to third, 36.8 seconds back with a single penalty. Italian Silver and Bronze went to Michela Carrara and Auchentaller.

The Norwegian women, in the midst of an altitude training camp missed the podium. Marthe Kraakstad Johansen and Maren Kirkeeide, eighth and tenth both days, respectively Maren Kirkeeide were their top finishers. Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold finished a disappointing 33rd in the sprint and 29th in the pursuit.

Promising Results: Tommy, Hanna, Suvi

The two competition days revealed some promising results. Giacomel looks ready to battle Eric Perrot and Sturla Holm Laegreid; Hofer remains the second-best on the team. The Finns continue to improve and could provide some surprises this season.

Auchentaller is solidly the cream of the crop behind Vittozzi and Wierer, followed by Comola and Carrara. Minkkinen looks ready to pick up where she left off last winter. Gandler’s pursuit fourth signals a return to good health and her hopes for the Olympic season.

Summer competitions are mostly tests; competing well on the Olympic venue earned confidence and bonus points, but winter is still two months away; there is still plenty of time for all to improve. Stay tuned…

Photos: IBU/ Nordic Focus/Modica