Tatjana Paller on the Stelvio: Cyclist at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games
Kristian Bauer
· 10.02.2026
Ski mountaineering (skimo) and road cycling require a high aerobic capacity and well-trained strength endurance. Anton Palzer and Antonia Niedermeier have switched from skimo to the road. However, the switch seems possible in both directions: 30-year-old Tatjana Paller from Lenggries came to ski mountaineering (skimo) as a career changer. In cycling, she competed for Germany in international track cycling competitions from the youth category onwards. In 2017, she became U-23 European champion in the points race. From 2017 to 2020, she pedalled for RSV Unna. On the road, she rode in international tours such as the Lotto Belgium Tour, Giro delle Marche in Rosa or Gracia Orlova, but was unable to achieve any international successes.
Tatjana Paller with medal chances
Things are different in the snow - she is more successful in ski mountaineering than on the road. Paller competed in her first World Cup in ski mountaineering in December 2020 - since then, her career has skyrocketed. The sports soldier is now one of the strongest ski mountaineering athletes in Germany. There were several reasons for her switch from cycling to winter sports: "In cycling, things didn't go the way I wanted them to. But I realised that my fitness was great. But I had a few really bad falls, including one with paraplegia. And then somehow the fear always travelled with me. I no longer wanted to risk so much for the sport," she explains in an interview with the German Alpine Club (DAV). The DAV is the professional association responsible for Skimo. Since switching in 2020, she has secured eight German championship titles. Internationally, she achieved 4th place in the overall sprint World Cup 2024/25 and bronze in the sprint at the ISMF World Championships 2025 in Morgins.
At the Winter Olympics, Tatjana Paller is expected to compete in the sprint and mixed relay categories. In the sprint competitions in Bormio, the athletes will race up and down 70 metres in altitude on the Stelvio piste. The course is divided into four sections, each of which is based on classic ski touring: the first section is uphill on skis through a course, followed by a carrying section, followed by a final ascent on skis and finally a descent back to the finish line via gates. The sprint race only lasts around three minutes. First there are several elimination heats and only the fastest finishers make it to the final.
Palzer comments on Skimo with Tatjana Paller
Cycling fans will be particularly pleased about the commentator on Eurosport: as an expert for Eurosport, former professional cyclist Toni Palzer will be commentating live on the Olympic ski mountaineering competitions on 19 and 21 February in Bormio (sprint and mixed relay). It is a historic moment for the sport itself: ski mountaineering is on the programme for the first time at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
"I am delighted that ski mountaineering is now part of the Olympic Games. This discipline combines endurance and technique in a unique way - the athletes deserve to be on the big stage. Together with Eurosport, I have been immersed in the World Cup competitions again over the last few weeks and am excited to see whether the favourites will prevail in Bormio or whether we can expect one or two surprises!" As is well known, Toni Palzer had switched from ski mountaineering to cycling - but did not get a job with the Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe team. new contract more. That's why he switched back this year. After his time as a WorldTour professional cyclist, Palzer is returning to his earlier successes in ski mountaineering. The man from Ramsau celebrated a double victory at the traditional Jennerstier ski mountaineering competition in Berchtesgaden at the weekend. The 32-year-old won the vertical race on Saturday and also secured victory in the individual competition on Sunday. With this success, the local hero was also crowned German champion in the individual discipline.
Competition dates Skimo Olympic Games 2026:
19 February 2026: Sprint
- 9:50 hrs: Preliminary heats, women
- 10:30 am: Preliminary heats, men
- 12:55 pm: Semi-final, women
- 13:25: Semi-final, men
- 13:55: Final, women
- 14:15: Final, men
21 February 2026: Mixed Relay
- from 13:30
Kristian Bauer
Editor
