Double gold medallist at the recent Nordic Ski World Championships Johannes Rydzek of Germany finished as runner-up.

Watabe and Rydzek were joint eighth in the ski jumping section of the event as the two men scored 112.9 points, while Norway's Haavard Klemetsen led the way on 126.4 points.

With the top ten separated by just one minute at the beginning of the cross-country, it was always going to prove a closely fought event and a group at Watabe and Rydzek soon found themselves in a lead group, including world team sprint champion Jason Lamy-Chappuis of France and team normal hill gold medallist Fabian Rieβle of Germany.

Japan's Akito Watabe saw off competition from Germany's Johannes Rydzek and Rieβle to take victory in the Nordic Ski World Cup event in Lahti ©AFP/Getty Images



Rydzek and his countryman Rieβle launched an attack on the final lap, but Watabe proved to be a match for the break, first passing Rieβle before overcoming Rydzek in the closing stages to win with a time of 28min 02.3sec.

The two Germans held on for the remaining podium places, with Rydzek second in 28:05.3, while Rieβle third in 28:13.4.

Despite finishing 23rd, it was a positive day for Germany's World Cup leader Eric Frenzel as his main rivals for the overall victory either faltered or were not present in Finland.

His overall total of 869 points is 228 clear of Watabe who, following this victory, has 641 points, and the German looks poised to seal victory with only two World Cup events remaining.

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