Finland's Ryynaenen secures 34 second lead after ski jump

From Sportsbeat Staff, in Whistler

FINLAND'S Janne Ryynaenen soared into a surprise lead in the men's Nordic combined 10km individual normal hill event at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

SURPRISE LEADER: Finland's Janne Ryynaenen leaps into a 34 seconds lead in the Nordic combined 10km normal hill event at the Whistler Olympic Park (Getty Images)

Competing in his first Olympics, the 22-year old former world relay champion scored an impressive 135.5 for his ski jump of 105m to give himself a 34 seconds lead going into the 10km cross country ski.

USA's world champion Todd Lodwick is known as an all-rounder and put himself in contention with a jump of 101.5m to score 127 and place second.

American compatriots Bill Demong and Johnny Spillane also boast world championship golds, but suffered mixed results in their jumps with Spillane well placed 44 back in fourth but Demong 1:20 minutes down in 24th.

World Cup leader Jason Lamy Chappuis is also in the mix in fifth but isn't used to chasing a leader in the cross country leg - his weaker of the two disciplined.

Cross country specialists Magnus Moan and Felix Gottwald may have too much ground to catch up, with Norway's Moan 2:06 back and Germany's Gottwald 2:12 back.

But Ryynaenen's teammate and triple Olympic medallist Hannu Manninen is also renowned for his cross country leg and is only 1:18 back in 22nd.

The 10km cross country leg starts at 13:45 (-8 GMT) at the Whister Olympic Park.

AS IT HAPPENS: Day three from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver