Rydzek and Riessle take thrilling victory in Lahti

Rydzek and Riessle sat second after the ski jump portion of the contest, with Norwegians Jan Schmid and Jarl Magnus Riiber leading the way.

Schmid and Jarl Riiber lived off their time advantage for the first part of the cross-country section but Riessle and Rydzek inched closer and closer until the gap had melted completely.

But disaster struck for the Norwegians as Riiber dislocated his shoulder on the last lap, allowing Riessle to come home in 32:57.9 minutes for the win.

In the end Schmid and Riiber and failed to finish as Austrians Lukas Klapper and Bernhard Gruber were runners-up, 18 seconds further back.

And completing the podium were another Austrian pair as Franz-Josef Rehrl and Philipp Orter were 1:40.8 minutes off the leaders.

Following this event, the 18th of the World Cup season, Germany lead the Nation Cup standings on 3028 points, with Norway second on 2592 and Austria third with 1649.

Sportsbeat 2016