Watabe triumphs in nordic combined; wins for Olsson, Kowalczyk

Feb 18, 2012, 15:13 GMT

Klingenthal, Germany - Akito Watabe of Japan won the nordic combined in Klingenthal Saturday for his second World Cup victory.

Watabe led from the jump and put in a commanding 10km cross-country run to beat overall leader Jason Lamy Chappuis by 28.5 seconds, with Bernhard Gruber of Austria third.

Lamy Chappuis remains on course for his third successive overall World Cup.

In Sklarska Poreba, Poland, Johan Olsson of Sweden clinched his third win of the season in the 15km classic-style cross country.

Olsson crossed the line in 38 minutes 48.2 seconds, beating overall leader Dario Cologna of Switzerland by 19.3 seconds, with Russian Alexander Legkov third.

Justyna Kowalczyk won the women's race over 10km before home fans in 28:43.9 Min to take the overall World Cup lead over Marit Bjoergen of Norway.

Kowalczyk finished 36.1 seconds ahead of Bjoergen and 50.4 seconds up on Bjoergen's team-mate Therese Johaug.

Austria's Martin Koch: won the sky flying World Cup event at Oberstdorf, Germany, garnering 443.4 points for jumps of 218 and 221.5 metres.

Daiki Ito of Japan (433.2) was second and Simon Ammann of Switzerland (429.2) third.

Anders Bardal of Norway continues to top the World Cup standings on 1,139 points, ahead of Austrians Gregor Schlierenzauer (1,095) and Andreas Kofler (1,061).