The Norwegian, who claimed the 10 kilometre sprint and 4x5km team titles at Sochi 2014, was only eighth after the ski jumping phase but enjoyed a powerful ski which saw him overhaul a disadvantage of just over a minute.

Norway's Jarl Riiber was the best of the ski jumpers as he registered 131.5 metres, giving him 134 points and a 16-second-advantage on team-mate Håvard Klemetsen, the second best jumper who landed at 130.5m for a tally of 129.9 points.

Japan’s Akito Watabe, who recorded 124.5 metres for 125.8 points, was third ahead of the cross-country and had 33 seconds to make up on the track.

In the end, Riiber was to slip into third place, with overall World Cup leader Eric Frenzel of Germany doing enough for second behind Graabak after finishing seventh following the jumping.

Riiber went out alone on the track and lived off his time advantage for the first three quarters, but Frenzel and Graabak gradually put the pressure on the 18-year-old.

After they both passed him, Graabak attacked on the last uphill stretch and Frenzel was unable to match his pace.

This was the second consecutive win for Norway at the World Cup, with Riiber triumphing in Oslo on February 6.

German Johannes Rydzek, 22nd after the ski jumping, was a big mover as he finished in fifth place, while Klemetsen was seventh.

Frenzel still enjoys a commanding overall lead, with the 10km/normal hill Olympic champion boasting 811 points ahead of Watabe, who was fourth today and has 684.

Another German, Fabian Rießle, is third in the standings with 643 points and was sixth today.

Trondheim will host a second Nordic Combined World Cup tomorrow.