This is what a winner looks like: Matteo Tanel beams after his triumph. © Newspower.it

By one point: South Tyrolean wins overall World Cup

Although winter sports are still on summer break, a South Tyrolean athlete can call himself the overall World Cup winner since Sunday – not for the first time in his career.

September 22, 2025

From: det

Matteo Tanel has been one of the world's best roller skiers for years. The 32-year-old from Branzoller speeds across asphalt tracks around the globe on his short skis on wheels. Now the experienced native of the Unterland region gave himself the greatest gift: On Sunday, Tanel won the overall World Cup at Alpe Cermis in the Fiemme Valley Alps – for the third time in his career.

“I’m still a bit lost for words,” Tanel said on Monday morning. SportNews. The battle for the globe couldn't have been closer: the Branzoller beat his rival Raimo Vigants from Latvia by just one point. "It was a heart-stopping finale," explains Tanel. "I had to finish second to win the overall World Cup. On the home stretch, I had a battle with Austrian Alexander Brandner for second place and was able to prevail."

Matteo Tanel took the crown. © Newspower.it

The third overall World Cup victory after 2019 and 2021 is the crowning achievement of Tanel's career. "In the past three years, I've always finished second. Making it happen now makes me proud," said the 32-year-old, who will become a father for the first time this winter. He hasn't had enough of his sport yet. "I want to be there next year, because that's when the World Championships are," said Tanel, who has already won World Championship gold once – in 2021 at the Lavazejoch. "That was the best moment of my career," said the native of the Unterland region.

Piste rescuer in winter, overall World Cup winner in summer

In his youth, Tanel was a cross-country skier. However, due to a lack of results, the Branzoller native changed his focus seven years ago and became a professional roller skier. Tanel is passionate about this sport, which sees him speeding across the asphalt at speeds of up to 70 km/h. His passion is also well-suited to his job: Tanel works for the military and is a piste patroller in the winter. "In the summer, I always get time off so I can compete," says Tanel.

Matteo Tanel puts his foot on the gas. © Newspower.it

According to Tanel, roller skiing could become increasingly important in the future. "Biathletes and cross-country skiers have been training on roller skis in the summer for many years. The good thing is that this sport can be practiced anywhere in the world, even on an island in the ocean. This has its advantages in times of climate change and increasingly difficult snow conditions," Tanel concludes.