Peter Schlickenrieder replaced as Germany’s cross‑country head coach by Michael Bonfert
Peter Schlickenrieder replaced as Germany’s cross-country head coach by Michael Bonfert; DSV announces broader coaching reshuffle after Feb 2026 Winter Games.
Peter Schlickenrieder is no longer the head coach of Germany’s cross‑country skiing team, the German Ski Association (DSV) announced on Monday, April 27, 2026. The DSV confirmed that 38‑year‑old Michael Bonfert will take over as head coach while Schlickenrieder will remain within the federation in a senior management role. The change comes as part of a wider staff restructuring following the national team’s performance at the February 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy.
New head coach named by the DSV
Michael Bonfert, 38, was appointed to lead the German cross‑country squad and will assume day‑to‑day responsibility for training and competition strategy. The DSV framed the move as a continuation of the program’s recent direction, highlighting Bonfert’s familiarity with the team’s methods and objectives. Officials said the appointment aims to combine continuity with fresh leadership as Germany prepares for the next World Cup season and world championships.
Schlickenrieder to retain sport director duties
Peter Schlickenrieder will not leave the federation; he will continue in the role of sport director, a position he has shared with Wencke Hölig since May 2025. The DSV said this structure is intended to separate long‑term sports development and administration from the operational tasks of head coaching. Schlickenrieder, who has led the team since 2018, will therefore focus on broader program planning and athlete development while passing coaching responsibilities to Bonfert.
Context for the leadership shift
Schlickenrieder took on a dual role last year after longtime coach Andreas Schlütter moved into the executive team of DSV Leistungssport GmbH. That consolidation had placed both managerial and coaching authority with Schlickenrieder through parts of the last Olympic cycle. The federation’s decision to split those functions again reflects a desire to clarify responsibilities between strategic oversight and daily coaching operations.
New coaches for men’s and women’s teams
The restructuring announced by the DSV extends beyond the head coach appointment. Norway’s Torstein Dagestad has been named the new coach for the men’s squad, while Michael Bittner will take charge of the women’s team. In addition, two‑time world champion Axel Teichmann, 46, will move from a discipline coaching post to serve as Head of Performance, overseeing conditioning and high‑performance planning across both teams.
Record under Schlickenrieder’s tenure
During Schlickenrieder’s tenure as head coach, German skiers produced notable results on the Olympic stage. At the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, Victoria Carl and Katharina Hennig secured a surprise gold in the team sprint and the women’s relay captured silver. At the February 2026 Winter Games in northern Italy, Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek won bronze in the team sprint, representing the German team’s sole cross‑country medal at those Games.
Federation cites continuity and expertise
In announcing the change, the DSV emphasized a desire to maintain the program’s strategic course while injecting new technical leadership. Officials framed Bonfert’s appointment as consistent with the federation’s recent approach and capable of advancing athlete performance. The federation also underlined that the reshuffle creates a clearer hierarchy for coaching, performance management and long‑term talent development.
The immediate challenge for the new coaching group will be to convert lessons from the recent Olympic cycle into consistent World Cup results and steadier medal prospects at major championships. With Schlickenrieder remaining as sport director and Teichmann overseeing performance, the DSV has positioned experienced figures to support Bonfert’s transition while expecting measurable improvements in team preparation.
With the reshuffle now official, athletes and support staff will begin implementing revised training plans and reporting structures in the coming weeks. The federation has scheduled internal briefings to outline roles and timelines, and national team leadership says it will present a detailed performance roadmap ahead of the next international season.
