January 15, 2011 (Seefeld, Austria) – Olympic silver medalist Todd Lodwick (Steamboat Springs, CO) returned to the World Cup Saturday, leading the USA in 23rd. France’s Olympic champion Jason Lamy Chappuis won the jump and held off the field in the cross-country ski leg to take the victory.

Bryan Fletcher led the way again in jumping, standing 14th with a 101.5 meter jump. Lodwick was tied for 17th at 99.5 meters. Lamy Chappuis all but clinched the win with a towering 113.0 meter leap to give him an almost unbeatable one minute, four second margin over the field going into cross-country ski section.

In the late afternoon cross-country leg, Lamy Chappuis set a moderate pace with Norwegian Magnus Moan putting on a herculean effort to come from 25th and nearly two minutes back to pull within 30 seconds of the Olympic champion by the finish to take second. Mikko Kokslien, who had led the Norwegians to a relay win on Friday, was third.

For the Americans, both Lodwick and Fletcher dropped back through the race but both tookaway points scoring finishes. It was the fourth time in the points this season for Fletcher, who has also cracked the top 10 earlier in the year.

Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) had another good cross country outing – 24th fastest – to finish 34th, just out of the points. Johnny Spillane (Steamboat Springs, CO) was 45th in his return to action after six months out with a knee injury.

Action will resume in Seefeld Sunday with another individual event before the circuit heads to France. Olympic champion Billy Demong, a proud new father of son Liam, will join the action action for a pair of World Cups in Chaux-Neuve.

Full results HERE.

Results (brief)

1. Jason Lamy Chappuis, France, 25:33.2
2. Magnus-H. Moan, Norway, 26:02.5
3. Mikko Kokslien, Norway, 26:06.1

23. Todd Lodwick, Steamboat Springs, CO, 27:30.4
28. Bryan Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO, 27:51.6
34. Taylor Fletcher, Steamboat Springs, CO, 28:10.2
54. Johnny Spillane, Steamboat Springs, CO, 29:04.0