KUUSAMO, Finland (AP) — Finland's Hannu Manninen overtook Germany's Tino Edelmann in a thrilling finish Sunday to win the season's second World Cup Nordic combined event by 1.2 seconds.
Manninen, who won four overall titles in a row from 2004-2007 before leaving the circuit in 2008 to study for an airline pilot's certificate, is back on top form despite not being able to prepare properly for his comeback.
The 29-year-old Finn started ninth after the ski jump, trailing expected pacesetters Eric Frenzel of Germany by 51 seconds and Frenchman Jason Lamy Chappuis by 46.
Manninen won with a time of 25 minutes, 33.7 seconds after edging out Edelmann, while Frenzel was third, 3.6 seconds behind. Lamy Chappuis finished fifth, behind Petter Tande of Norway.
"The finish was very tough," Manninen said. "I needed strength for the last hill, but the guys went past me. Luckily I had some left in the finish. I cannot believe the season could start this well."
Frenzel had also been third in Saturday's race, which was won by Lamy Chappuis, ahead of second place Manninen.
Manninen leads the World Cup with 180 points, followed by Lamy Chappuis on 145 and Frenzel with 120.
Americans Todd Lodwick and Bill Demong, who both won world titles earlier this year, skipped the event.
