Lamy Chappuis edges out Tande for second World Cup win

FRANCE'S Jason Lamy Chappuis bounced back to the top of the podium at the third Nordic Combined World Cup of the season in Lillehammer.

HIGH FLYER: France's Jason Lamy Chappuis wins again to move 70 points clear at the top of the World Cup standings (Getty Images)

The 23-year old struck gold at the opening World Cup of the season in Kuusamo before slipping to fifth, for the second competition, the following day.

However, the Frenchman's return to the top was far from easy as Norwegian Petter Tande pushed him all the way before finishing just 0.1 seconds behind the winner.

After shooting to the lead with a ski jumping score of 138.1, Lamy Chappuis finished the cross country 18th fastest in 24:25.9 minutes.

Tande was lying fifth after a ski jumping score of 133.4 with 19 seconds to make up on the Frenchman but a cross country time of 24:07.0 mins left the Norwegian agonisingly close and surely wondering what might have been.

The race for third place was less competitive as Germany youngster Eric Frenzel finished 1.5 secs behind Lamy Chappuis and with 4.5 secs to spare on teammate Tino Edelmann in fourth.

After finishing fifth last year, Lamy Chappuis now sits comfortably at the top of the World Cup standings with 245 points from the three events with Finland's Hannu Manninen, Tande and Frenzel sharing second place on 180.