Kircheisen wins last combined World Cup mass start event

Kircheisen wins last combined World Cup mass start event Val di Fiemme, Italy  - Bjoern Kircheisen of Germany won the last World Cup mass start event to be held in Nordic combined skiing on Saturday.

Kircheisen had 258.5 points from a 10-kilometres cross country mass start portion and two ensuing rounds of ski-jumping for his second season win and 13th in his career.

Austrian Bernhard Gruber trailed by just half a point in second place with 285.0 points. Jan Schmid of Norway was third with 254.7 points.

Finnish season leader Anssi Koivuranta pulled out during the cross-country portion, reportedly suffering from a stomach bug which also makes his participation in Sunday's individual event doubtful.

Koivuranta nonetheless retained the World Cup top spot with 643 points from 10 events. Kircheisen has 509 points and American Bill Demong is third with 497 points.

The mass start was rarely contested in the World Cup and is now scrapped as the sport tries to make itself more attractive for fans. However, it will be held one last time at the world championships next month. (dpa)

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