World silver medallists Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid mount stunning comeback to take team title

Germany’s Vinzenz Geiger and Julian Schmid produced a stunning comeback to take the Nordic Combined men’s team World Cup in Lahti on Friday.

An indifferent performance on the Finnish Large Hill meant the German pair started fourth in the 2 x 7.5km relay, 24 seconds behind leaders Stefan Rettenegger and Johannes Lamparter of Austria.

Seven leading teams set off within a minute of each other, including Austria’s second duo Lukas Greiderer and Franz-Josef Rehrl whose start was delayed by just six seconds.

But by the 3km mark, both Austrian teams had slipped a place, but followed closely behind Norway’s Joergen Graabak.

And at the handover, Austria I had fallen back to fifth and a six second gap had opened up between them and the four neck-and-neck front runners.

Graabak’s teammate Jarl Magnus Riiber battled to the line with Schmid, but it was the German who prevailed by 0.6 seconds.

France’s Matteo Baud and Laurent Muhlethaler improved from fifth position at the start of the cross-country relay to take bronze.

Lahti Ski Games’ 100th anniversary celebration continues over the weekend with the men’s HS130/10km double header rounding off the Nordic Combined season.

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Watch the Nordic Combined season finale live on Eurosport and discovery+