Klingenthal, Germany – Bryan Fletcher, of Steamboat Springs, Colo., led the USA in a World Cup nordic combined skiing competition held on Saturday in Klingenthal, Germany, posting 17th after jumping to 14th and skiing to make up a minute and 50 second deficit.
Also breaking the top-20 was Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong, of Vermontville, N.Y., in 19th. Japan’s Akito Watabe took the top spot after the jump and was able to hold on to the lead to take the win.Taylor Fletcher, also of Steamboat Springs, who took a Continental Cup win on the same hill in late January, landed 31st after the jump and rose eight spots to finish 23rd. Johnny Spillane of Steamboat Springs jumped strong to 11th, but fell to finish 30th after battling to make up a minute and 33 second gap.
Fletcher posted the fastest cross country time for the USA, skiing the 16th fastest race.
“I thought we were going to be a bit better today, but we just didn’t have it,” admitted U.S. Nordic Combined Head Coach Dave Jarrett. “We’ll try again tomorrow.”
OFFICIAL RESULTS
FIS Nordic Combined World Cup
Klingenthal, Germany – Feb. 18, 2012
Individual Gundersen 10.0 km
| Rank | Bib | Name | Year | Nation | Result |
| 1 | 1 | WATABE Akito | 1988 | JPN | 25:06.3 |
| 2 | 5 | LAMY CHAPPUIS Jason | 1986 | FRA | 25:34.8 |
| 3 | 3 | GRUBER Bernhard | 1982 | AUT | 25:35.9 |
| 4 | 2 | DENIFL Wilhelm | 1980 | AUT | 25:52.0 |
| 5 | 4 | KLEMETSEN Haavard | 1979 | NOR | 26:15.0 |
| 6 | 19 | KOKSLIEN Mikko | 1985 | NOR | 26:32.9 |
| 7 | 18 | SCHMID Jan | 1983 | NOR | 26:41.6 |
| 8 | 6 | RIESSLE Fabian | 1990 | GER | 27:01.9 |
| 9 | 8 | STORLIEN Gudmund | 1990 | NOR | 27:02.2 |
| 10 | 10 | KJELBOTN Thomas | 1986 | NOR | 27:02.8 |