ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) — Christoph Bieler of Austria capped off a successful weekend Sunday with a win in the Nordic combined World Cup individual event.
Bieler completed the 10-kilometer cross-country race on a winding course in 25:31 minutes, edging out Japan’s powerful skier Akito Watabe by 4.4 seconds, whittled down from a 52-second deficit.
The 35-year old Austrian began first off the starting line after reaching 135 meters to garner 136.4 points in the jump.
Miroslav Dvorak of the Czech Republic powered up from 8th position and a 1:02-minute defecit to come in third, 17.5 seconds behind the leader, registering a career best.
Bieler, who was third in Saturday’s combined event, has not claimed a top podium spot for five years.
