February 26, 2015 (Falun, SWE) – American Bryan Fletcher set himself up for success with a strong jump placing 13th and then skied with panache to a top-five finish in the large hill Nordic combined event at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun. It was a career-best major event finish for Fletcher, who fell just 16 seconds short of the podium.

Bryan Fletcher © Getty Images- Mike Hewitt

Bernhard Gruber from Austria took the World Champion title on the large hill in Falun finishing 11.9 seconds ahead of  his nearest rival, Francois Braud from France. The bronze medal went to Johannes Rydzek from Germany who crossed the finish line 14.9 seconds after Gruber and collected his third medal in Falun. Gruber is the first-ever Austrian world champion in the history of Nordic combined.

Bernhard Gruber © Nordic Focus

In a riveting race, Gruber, Jason Lamy Chappuis and Braud worked together to keep the pursuing group consisting of about 10 athletes off their backs. Gruber and Braud were strong enough to stay ahead of the field for the whole race. After Lamy Chappuis had to let go of his teammate and Gruber on the last lap, Braud aud Gruber battled it out on the last hill with Gruber powering up “Mördarbacken” in his typical wild “Burner”-style. But Braud kept going strong after having to let Gruber go and skied an undisputed second place into the finish right behind the new Austrian world champion.

His teammate and Nordic combined superstar Lamy Chappuis did not fare so well once he was swallowed up by the large pursuing group. After being overtaken by Rydzek, Magnus Moan and Fletcher, he finished sixth. Moan and Rydzek battled for the bronze medal in a nailbiter of a finish-line sprint with the newly minted World champion on the normal hill having the extra bit of energy. The German claimed his third consecutive medal in Falun and edged the Norwegian off the podium.

Full results here.