Team France Wins the PCI Alpencup 2026
Team Switzerland Takes Second Place and Team Germany Third Place at the Fifth PCI Alpencup in Augsburg
30.06.2026
– At the fifth PCI Alpencup, Team France, represented by Nathanael Ball and Samuel Retiere, won first place in an exciting final, followed by the teams from Switzerland in second place and Germany in third place. Sika Germany hosted the PCI Alpencup in close cooperation with the European Union of National Tile Installer Associations (EUF). As in previous years, the event was embedded in an attractive accompanying program and returned to Augsburg this year following the most recent events abroad. Fourteen young tilers from seven countries competed for victory from June 25 to 26, 2026..
At the fifth PCI Alpencup, Team France, represented by 21-year-old Nathanael Ball and 23-year-old Samuel Retiere, achieved first place with a strong performance. The Swiss team, represented this year by Noah Hess and Tobias Liechti, won silver once again, just as they did in 2024, while third place went to GermanSkills 2025 winner Luis Brauner and Lukas Blos from Germany.
PCI introduced the PCI Alpencup in 2021 as a new format within the framework of talent promotion, developed in close cooperation with the European Union of National Tile Installer Associations (EUF). A total of fourteen young tilers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Denmark, France, Sweden and the Czech Republic, competed and demonstrated their skills over two days of competition. The event took place on June 25 and 26 at the ABZ training center of the construction trade guild. The award ceremony and prize presentation on the evening of June 26 concluded the event.
As in previous events, each team of two tilers had to complete together a task based on the level of the World Championships (WorldSkills) and European Championships (EuroSkills) within a defined timeframe. In each case, one of the participating countries is responsible for setting the task and provides the chair of the jury. In 2026, Switzerland once again assumed responsibility for the jury chair and task development.
As usual, participants and visitors could look forward to an attractive accompanying program throughout the event in addition to the main competition, including various practical demonstrations as well as a specialist exhibition with well-known industrial partners.
"Congratulations to the winners from France! All teams delivered a very strong performance, and what impressed me most was the focused yet highly motivated atmosphere throughout the entire competition. The ambition and team spirit of all participants impressed both the jury and the spectators alike. As one of the key elements of our talent promotion activities, the PCI Alpencup was once again an outstanding event with a great atmosphere. For us, this is confirmation that the competition is on the right track as a joint project with the tile and slab trade associations of the participating countries. Since its premiere, the competition has developed into an important platform for young professionals in the trade – and the fifth edition once again demonstrated the tremendous potential of these young talents,” summarizes Daniela Schmiedle, Managing Director of Sika in Germany. “We are delighted that the PCI Alpencup has become a firmly established event in the annual calendar of vocational competitions, and we are already very much looking forward to the next edition in 2028.”
PCI accompanied the PCI Alpencup 2026 through various communication channels. In addition, all competition results, video recordings, photos, films, posts and stories remain available on the landing page at PCI Alpencup.
PCI introduced the PCI Alpencup in 2021 as a new format within the framework of talent promotion, developed in close cooperation with the European Union of National Tile Installer Associations (EUF). A total of fourteen young tilers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Denmark, France, Sweden and the Czech Republic, competed and demonstrated their skills over two days of competition. The event took place on June 25 and 26 at the ABZ training center of the construction trade guild. The award ceremony and prize presentation on the evening of June 26 concluded the event.
As in previous events, each team of two tilers had to complete together a task based on the level of the World Championships (WorldSkills) and European Championships (EuroSkills) within a defined timeframe. In each case, one of the participating countries is responsible for setting the task and provides the chair of the jury. In 2026, Switzerland once again assumed responsibility for the jury chair and task development.
As usual, participants and visitors could look forward to an attractive accompanying program throughout the event in addition to the main competition, including various practical demonstrations as well as a specialist exhibition with well-known industrial partners.
"Congratulations to the winners from France! All teams delivered a very strong performance, and what impressed me most was the focused yet highly motivated atmosphere throughout the entire competition. The ambition and team spirit of all participants impressed both the jury and the spectators alike. As one of the key elements of our talent promotion activities, the PCI Alpencup was once again an outstanding event with a great atmosphere. For us, this is confirmation that the competition is on the right track as a joint project with the tile and slab trade associations of the participating countries. Since its premiere, the competition has developed into an important platform for young professionals in the trade – and the fifth edition once again demonstrated the tremendous potential of these young talents,” summarizes Daniela Schmiedle, Managing Director of Sika in Germany. “We are delighted that the PCI Alpencup has become a firmly established event in the annual calendar of vocational competitions, and we are already very much looking forward to the next edition in 2028.”
PCI accompanied the PCI Alpencup 2026 through various communication channels. In addition, all competition results, video recordings, photos, films, posts and stories remain available on the landing page at PCI Alpencup.
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