By Paul Osborne

Eric Frenzel returns to the top of the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup leaderboard ©Getty ImagesEric Frenzel has returned to the top of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Nordic Combined World Cup podium following victory in Chaux-Neuve today.

The German clocked a time more than six seconds ahead of team mate and World Cup leader Fabian Fießle in 27min 31.9sec to close the gap on Fießle atop the World Cup leaderboard.

Norway's Magnus Moan applied a strong finish to claim the final podium position, narrowly beating team mate Mikko Kokslien, who sits third in the overall standings.

It was another Norwegian, Jarl Riiber, who began the day on top as he recorded a jump of 110.5 metres on his first international World Cup start.

The distance gave the youngster 117.4 points and a 28 seconds head start on Frenzel in the cross-country race, however, that would not stop the German superstar from powering to victory in France.

Frenzel claimed second in the ski jump as he collected 110.4 points, just 0.6 more than Japan's Akito Watabe in fourth.

Last weekend's winner Lukas Klapfer claimed ninth in the jump to sit 1:02 behind Riiber while World Cup leader Fabian Rießle recorded a decent jump to finish 13th, 1:19 off the pace.

Magnus Moan crossed the line first in the cross-country race to claim the final podium position in France ©Getty ImagesMagnus Moan crossed the line first in the cross-country race to claim the final podium position in France ©Getty Images



A tough cross-country race saw the young Riiber caught on the second of five 2 kilometre-loops of the Chaux-Neuve course.

After that a leading group of four athletes formed, consisting of Riiber, Frenzel and Japan's Watabe brothers, Akito and Yoshito.

The group held a short-lived lead until Lukas Klapfer was able to work his way to the front, together with yellow-bib bearer Rießle.

Magnus Krog, Alessandro Pittin, Kokslien and Moan were quick to close the gap with Frenzel knowing he had to push hard to keep the chasers at bay.

The German was able to hold a slight lead over Rießle as Moan, Kokslien and Watabe engaged in a sprint to the line for the remaining podium position.

Moan was first across the line, winning the battle for the final podium place, with Kokslien just 0.2 seconds behind in fourth.

Watabe was just 0.2 further adrift as he finished in fifth.

Pittin was third fastest in the race but his time difference from the jump left him down in 10th overall.

Frenzel was 18th quickest on the course which was enough to claim top spot, with Rießle's seventh placed cross-country finish cemented his position in second.

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