Emily Harrop won the women's event. © Sportissimus

Marmotta Trophy: Two Olympic champions strike

France's Emily Harrop and Spain's Oriol Cardona Coll won the thrilling sprints in Martell on Sunday as part of the Ski Mountaineering World Cup. Giulia Murada, also from Italy, secured a podium finish in the women's race, taking second place. This concludes this year's Marmotta Trophy, which featured a total of three events.

March 22, 2026

From: pm

Emily Harrop is the sprint queen of Martell. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman won the sprint in Stelvio National Park for the fourth time today, Sunday, following her victories in 2022, 2023, and 2024. For the Olympic mixed relay champion and Olympic sprint bronze medalist, it was the 30th World Cup victory of her career.

Although Harrop had to concede to Switzerland's Caroline Ulrich in the quarterfinals and advance to the semifinals in second place, she flexed her muscles there, crossing the finish line ahead of Giulia Murada. In the final, Harrop upped her game even further. She completed the course at the Grogg Biathlon Centre in 3 minutes and 21 seconds, six seconds faster than before. Murada again finished second, while Margot Ravinel – also from France – completed the podium.

The women's podium. © Sportissimus

“After the strenuous weeks, I was a little surprised myself because I didn’t know how my legs would react. I love being here in Martell. I like the course because it’s different and fun. So I tried to really push it, and I succeeded,” said Harrop. Gulia Murada, on the other hand, said: “I’m very satisfied. I like the sprint here, even if the course isn’t exactly suited to my strengths. The initial section is very flat, which doesn’t suit me. But after a third place two years ago, which was even more surprising, I’ve made it back onto the podium today (on Sunday, ed.).”

Cardona Coll is unbreakable.

In the men's competition, Spaniard Oriol Cardona Coll emerged victorious, not only winning the final with a time of 2:56 minutes, but also finishing first in the semifinals and quarterfinals. A month earlier, he had won this event in Bormio at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and also taken bronze in the mixed relay. On Sunday in Martell, the Spaniard beat Swiss athlete Arno Lietha and neutral competitor Nikita Filippov in the sprint.

Cardona Coll (right) ran ahead. © Sportissimus

"After the Olympics, I didn't train much in the last month because I was very busy. It's wonderful to see that I'm inspiring my fellow countrymen and that so many of them followed the Winter Olympics. Now, after this long..."

“To be back and to win again right away means a lot to me and it proves that I am still in good shape,” said Cardona Coll.

Tomasoni in fifth place

Luca Tomasoni, an athlete from the Italian national team, also made it to the final. Initially in the lead, he ultimately had to settle for fifth place. A result the "Azzurro" is quite happy with. "I'm very satisfied because I got into really good shape last month and made it to the final three times in a row. Still, it's a bit of a shame because I was in the lead until the halfway point of the race, but then I messed up a transition and fell back. I'm not used to running at the front yet, but it was a great experience," said the 23-year-old.

Tommasini finished in 5th place. © Sportissimus

The International Ski Federation (ISMF) was also very pleased on Sunday, praising Organizing Committee President Georg Altstätter on behalf of all the volunteers for the perfect organization of this World Cup stage. Board member Monika Strojny presented him with a glass trophy. Altstätter immediately passed on the praise: "A heartfelt thank you to all the helpers who contributed to this 18th edition of the Marmotta Trophy. We have shown how much solidarity matters and what can be achieved together. I would also like to thank our numerous sponsors, without whom we could never host the Marmotta Trophy."

18th Marmotta Trophy, Results

Sprint women
1. Emily Harrop FRA 3.21
2. Giulia Murada ITA 3.29
3. Margot Ravinel FRA 3.33
4. Célia Perillat-Pessey FRA 3.34
5. Tatjana Paller GER 3.38
6. Ana Alonso Rodriguez ESP 4.04

Sprint men
1. Oriol Cardona Coll ESP 2.56 minutes
2. Arno Lietha SUI 2.58
3. Nikita Filippov 3.02
4. Loïc Dubois SUI 3.05
5. Luca Tomasoni ITA 3.05
6. Biel Pujol Parramon ESP 4.25