Akito Watabe of Japan was unbeatable over all three days of the Seefeld Triple Nordic Combined challenge in Austria ©FIS

Akito Watabe became the second athlete to secure the Nordic combined triple in its five-year history as he completed his third victory in the Seefeld Triple at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Nordic Combined World Cup in Austria.

He thus matched the feat achieved three times by Eric Frenzel of Germany in the first running of the Seefeld Triple in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Japanese athlete dominated the third day as he had the previous two, earning another clear victory in a race that, as a finale, had been lengthened to 15 kilometres.

Watabe once again won the jump earlier in the day, recording 104.0 metres to give himself a start of 47 seconds over Jarl Riiber of Norway.

He eventually finished 74 seconds ahead of Riiber, with Germany’s Fabian Riessle taking the bronze medal position as he beat team-mate Vinzenz Geiger in a photo-finish, with both men being credited with a time of 1min 57.9sec behind Watabe.

Akito Watabe has become the second man to win all three legs of the Seefeld Triple introduced to the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup circuit in 2014, following Germany's Eric Frenzel, winner of the first three ©FIS
Akito Watabe has become the second man to win all three legs of the Seefeld Triple introduced to the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup circuit in 2014, following Germany's Eric Frenzel, winner of the first three ©FIS

Watabe also took over the lead in the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup rankings from Norway’s Jan Schmid, seventh today.

The Japanese has 745 points to Schmid’s 705.

It was a perfect preparation by Watabe for the Olympic challenge that lies ahead of him next month in Pyeongchang, with the Games due to take place from February 9 until 25.

Before that there will be a final World Cup test at Hakuba in Japan next Saturday and Sunday (February 3 and 4).