French Team Earns Podium Finish at Nordic Combined Team Sprint in Lahti

Mattéo Baud and Laurent Muhlethaler proudly secured the French Nordic combined team’s third podium of the season, finishing third in the Lahti team sprint held this past Friday.

After the jumping segment, the duo began in fifth place, but they quickly positioned themselves for a potential medal as they took to the ski tracks. Although they started 29 seconds behind the leading Austrian team following Thursday's jumps, Baud and Muhlethaler integrated into the front pack to avoid any mishaps. They then surged during the final lap, ultimately clinching the third place in Finland. Notably, this marked the first time that the French team has landed on the podium for a team sprint since 2016, when they achieved a similar feat in Val di Fiemme, Italy.

Despite a few tumbles from Austrian skier Stefan Rettenegger, which Baud and Muhlethaler skillfully dodged, they remained competitive as the race approached its conclusion. When a Finnish competitor launched an attack, the French pair, alongside a German competitor, managed to maintain their speed. In the end, they finished behind both Finland and Germany, the latter of whom won the only team sprint event of the season. This strong performance signifies the French team's growing presence in the Nordic combined season, as they capture their third podium finish.