March 02, 2011 (Oslo, Norway) – France’s Jason Lamy-Chappuis took the gold in the large hill Nordic Combined race in Oslo on Wednesday with Germany on the podium again as Johannes Rydzek claimed second and Eric Frenzel third. The top jumper of the day, Norway’s Haavard Klemetsen, ended up in 4th while the USA was out of the winner’s circle with Todd Lodwick finishing 5th followed by Billy Demong in 6th.

After the jumping Lamy-Chappuis was in second and proved why he’s the World Cup leader – he was unassailable from the start passing Klemetsen and never looked back. Rydzek and Frenzel kept a steady pace eclipsing the Norwegian as well to land on the podium. Lodwick at 28.8 seconds back and Demong 49.3 out, made good progress in the xc leg but in the end could not contend for the podium. Team mate Johnny Spillane finished 22nd, Bryan Fletcher was 30th and Taylor Fletcher placed 35th.

“We’re still in there. It’s bittersweet because we could medal but at the same time we’re doing better than you would think,” Demong said in a USSA release. “The impressive thing today was that we jumped better as a team.”

Lodwick was happy with their effort as well. “I finally feel like I can go out and compete and breathe and I think today showed it. It’s been an uphill battle. I get healthy then I train. Then I get sick again and have to take time off. But I’m happy to be here at World Championships.”

Full results HERE.