March 5, 2006 – Olympic nordic combined medalist Magnus Moan ended World Cup champion Hannu Manninen’s seven-meet victory streak yesterday (Saturday) in a World Cup at the Lahti Ski Games. Bill Demong (Vermontville, NY) moved up nine places to 17th while Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) advanced 15 places to 23rd in the 15K race.

Moan was second in jumping and finished 39.3 seconds ahead of Germany’s Bjoern Kircheisen. Demong, 26th in jumping, finished 2:52.9 back after producing the sixth-fastest 15K. Lodwick, who plans to retire later this month, had the eight-fastest race and was 4:19.1 back at the finish while Johnny Spillane (also Steamboat) moved up four places to 36th in the six-lap race.

Manninen, who has won 11 events this season, had taken seven in a row before the Olympics last month. However, he did not start Saturday as the World Cup schedule resumed following the Winter Games in Torino.

The season continues Sunday with a combined sprint event before heading to Oslo for the annual Holmenkollen Ski Festival March 11-12.