Jarl Magnus Riiber claims thrilling World Cup gold in Lahti ahead of final event on Sunday

Jarl Magnus Riiber overhauled Kristjan Ilves in a thrilling finish to claim World Cup gold at the penultimate nordic combined meet of the season in Lahti.

The Norwegian finished just 1.7s ahead of the Estonian to claim a seventh gold of the season and the 56th of his career.

Ilves was ahead after the ski jump, with his leap of 129.5m seeing him awarded 148.2 points and a slight advantage ahead of the cross-country ski.

Japan’s Ryota Yamamoto stood in second place, with Riiber third at the halfway stage of the competition.

A disastrous ski for the Japanese saw him fall well out of contention, with Yamamoto ultimately finishing down in 25th place.

However Riiber delivered a stunning ski to usurp Ilves and take gold, with compatriot Jens Luraas Oftebro rising from ninth at halfway to claim the final spot on the podium.

Riiber has claimed the past four Crystal Globes but this victory still only puts him in fourth place overall ahead of the final race of the season tomorrow.

Austrian Johannes Lamparter leads the overall standings, with Oftebro in second and Julian Schmid of Germany in third.

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