Cross-country skiing: The Mochs: A new German cross-country skiing dynasty?

There are still days when the new German cross-country skiing star Friedrich Moch struggles in the merciless battle among the world’s best. On Saturday, the 23-year-old only finished 16th at the World Cup in Lahti over 20 km in the rather unpopular classic technique, while in the women’s category, second-placed German Victoria Carl beamed again at the award ceremony. This cannot detract from the strong season record of the overall World Cup fifth-place finisher Friedrich Moch, who, in his steady rise this winter, secured second place in the legendary Tour de Ski for the first German podium finish in 15 years.

His autograph cards, which are in his father Alexander Moch’s pediatrician practice, are therefore highly sought after. In general, the home of the Mochs in Isny ​​has now become the center of the slow return of German cross-country skiing men to the world elite. A few weeks ago, Friedrich’s younger brother Jakob (18) shone with two gold medals and one silver medal Youth Olympic Games in South Korea. After silver in the freestyle sprint and gold in the classic 7.5 km race, Moch II led the German mixed relay team to triumph as the outstanding final runner. Afterwards he was allowed to Graduation ceremony carry the German flag at the Youth Olympic Games.

»That was really awesome and really cool. “No one can take my experiences away from me,” said Jakob Moch. Just like his big brother Friedrich, he otherwise seemed very grounded after the greatest triumphs of his young career. And he dutifully named his next goals on the way to a professional career as a cross-country skier in the Continental Cup and the Junior World Championships – but later of course also in the World Cup, the World Championships and the Olympics. However, according to national cross-country skiing coach Peter Schlickenrieder, it will probably take “three or four years before he can run there with his brother: if no long illnesses intervene and we have enough money to keep the coaches on task.”

Jakob’s big brother Friedrich has already made the jump. At a very young age for cross-country skiers, he sensationally stormed onto the podium in the Tour de Ski stage race, cheered on by his entire family, including his brother Jakob – including a hefty prize money check of 60,000 Swiss francs. To put it into perspective: Since the great successes of Axel Teichmann, Tobias Angerer and Rene Sommerfeldt around the turn of the millennium under the then head coach Jochen Behle, the German men have been running far behind the world’s best. In recent years, only the German women have made it back step by step – led by the team sprint Olympic champions Katharina Hennig and Victoria Carl. But now the Mochs are coming.

Peter Schlickenrieder at least sees Moch, the great one, as the “future world champion and Olympic champion.” Friedrich Moch has already won a World Cup medal when he sensationally led the German men’s relay team to bronze as the final runner in Planica in 2023. But why is the young man, who came to cross-country skiing very late after a career as a footballer, actually so successful? Schlickenrieder describes him as an “intelligent kid, very reflective and consistent in his training.” A person from the “quiet faction” who needs harmony and who, however, “still has to learn how to party.”

In addition, the entire Moch family apparently has an exceptional talent for the mentally and physically difficult endurance sport of cross-country skiing. “He got the talent and will to win from his great-grandfather,” said dad Alexander after Friedrich’s incredible performance at the Tour de Ski. “He won a medal at Oberjoch at some point.” Now the Mochs are on it with Friedrich and Jakob to found a new German cross-country skiing dynasty. Just like the four Zipfel brothers from the Black Forest did five decades ago, who won over 40 German championship titles.

Alexander Moch also has four children. However, no further cross-country skiing surprises with his family name are to be expected. The other two have other plans, as Friedrich Moch reveals: “I have an older sister and a younger brother, but he is older than Jakob. Neither of them do cross-country skiing and are studying.”