Graabak had won alongside Jan Schmid in the team sprint event yesterday but the Sochi 2014 gold medallist was yet to stand on top of the rostrum in an individual World Cup event, despite several podium finishes since making his debut at the level in 2011.

Graabak's prospects of victory at Val di Fiemme took a hit with Norwegian lying in 11th after the ski jumping, meaning he would set off 66 seconds behind the leader, Christoph Bieler of Austria in the 10 kilometres cross-country.

Bieler's distance of 132 metres saw him set off first and was set to be chased down by the Norwegian pairing of Haavard Klemetsen and Jan Schmid, but it was their compatriot Graabak who came storming through the field.

He had joined forces with Lukas Klapfer and Bernhard Gruber of Austria and Germany's Fabian Rießle to chase down the leaders, before launching an attack on the third lap, which the field were unable to resist.

Graabak surged clear to take seal his first World Cup victory in a time of 25min 58.7sec, 3.8 seconds ahead of Gruber in second after he had sprinted past Rieβle, with the German holding on to secure third.

Bernhard Gruber celebrates his second place finish in Val di Fiemme ©Getty Images



A noticeable absentee from the front of the race was the overall World Cup leader Eric Frenzel, who was disqualified from the ski jumping, due to irregular equipment.

It was a second disappointment for the German in three days after his five-ace winning streak had been brought to an end by Bernhard Gruber on Friday (January 30), but he remains in charge of the overall classification with 861 points, 241 ahead of the Austrian, who lies second.

The World Cup now takes a break as attentions turn to the FIS World Championships, which ar due to be held in Falun, Sweden, from February 20 to 28.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
January 2015: Late show from Graabak gives Norway team sprint victory at Nordic Combined World Cup
January 2015: Prevc and Frenzel earn ski jumping and Nordic combined victories in Sapporo
January 2015: Frenzel claims fourth successive Nordic Combined World Cup win
January 2015: Frenzel seals third win to claim Nordic Combined World Cup Triple
January 2015: Frenzel earns second straight win at FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Triple event