December 27, 2008 (Oberhof, Germany) – In an incredible return to the Nordic Combined World Cup, Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) took second place on Saturday at round #5 as he competed at his first World Cup in three years in Oberhof, Germany. Fellow U.S. athlete Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) was fifth while Johnny Spillane (USA) was disqualified.

“Let’s just say it was a fairytale. It’s hard not to be happy. This has been a long road back in a short amount of time. I have never trained so hard in my entire career to come back,” Lodwick said. “My expectations were to come in here and be top 15, and this is a huge leap forward. I wouldn’t say I didn’t think it was possible, but I definitely didn’t expect it.”

Teammate Johnny Spillane (Steamboat Springs, CO) would have also likely finished in the top five of the cross country race, but was disqualified for not wearing transponders, which are a timing device the athletes are required to wear when they race.

The Team will have another chance to get three in the top 10 on Sunday as they compete again in Oberhof.

Full results here.

Results (Brief)

1. Magnus Moan (Nor) (7/1)
2. Todd Lodwick, Steamboat Springs, CO, (5/3) 0.3 seconds back
3. Anssi Koivuranta (Fin) (1/16) + 0.4
4. Jason Lamy Chappuis (Fra) (2/28) + 37.0
5. Billy Demong, Vermontville, NY, (22/2) + 41.0
—
39. Eric Camerota, Park City, UT, (33/39) + 3:04.3
DQ: Johnny Spillane, Steamboat Springs, CO