Andorra's Lea Ancion Claims Ninth in Ski Mountaineering Sprint at Europeans

Lea Ancion delivered Andorra's strongest performance at the European Ski Mountaineering Championships in Shahdag, Azerbaijan, finishing ninth overall and second in the under-23 category during Wednesday's sprint event.

Representing the Andorran Mountaineering Federation (FAM), Ancion posted the sixth-fastest qualifying time of 3:49.38 to advance directly to the women's semifinals. There, she clocked 3:51.3 to take fifth in her heat, falling just under seven seconds short of the final. The overall women's podium went to Switzerland's Marianne Fatton, Italy's Giulia Murada, and Germany's Tatjana Paller, while Czech skier Eva Matejovicova topped the U23 category ahead of Ancion.

In the men's sprint, Max Palmitjavila placed 16th overall with a time of 3:18.56, and Oriol Olm was 20th at 3:21.31. Both advanced to the quarterfinals but finished fourth in their respective heats, missing semifinals by narrow margins—less than five seconds for Olm and under nine for Palmitjavila. Marc Casanovas ended 31st at 3:47.06, failing to progress beyond qualifying. Russia's Nikita Filippov won the men's event, followed by Switzerland's Thomas Bussard and Spain's Ot Ferrer; Jon Kistler of Switzerland led U23 ahead of Germany's Finn Hösch and Catalonia's Biel Pujol Parramon.

Ancion expressed satisfaction afterward: she felt strong on the demanding, technical uphill and downhill sections, managed the race well, and was pleased with ninth overall and second U23.

On Thursday, Ancion and Palmitjavila teamed up for the mixed relay, securing sixth place among 11 teams with a time of 42:13.5—roughly six and a half minutes behind winners Fatton and Bussard (35:55). Italy's Alba De Silvestro and Michele Boscacci took silver, with Germany's Paller and Hösch in third. The Andorrans traded blows with the Czech pair of Eva Matejovicova and Josef Nakladal, who faded to seventh.

The FAM confirmed all delegation members are safe and competing normally, following reports of a drone incident in Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan region near Iran. Local authorities stated it did not impact Shahdag or Baku's airport infrastructure. The federation is monitoring developments in touch with Andorra's Foreign Ministry, organizers, and the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF).

The championships resume Friday with individual races: women face about 19km and 1,200m vertical gain, men 23km and 1,500m. Ancion, Palmitjavila, Olm, and Casanovas are entered. A rest day follows before Sunday's vertical race.