Liberec, Czech Republic  - Todd Lodwick of the United States capped his return to Nordic combined skiing on Friday when he won the world title in the mass start event.

Lodwick, 32, soared 100.5 metres and 97.5 metres for a winning total of 296.0 points from the jumps and Thursday's 10-kilometres cross-country mass start race win.

Tino Edelmann of Germany placed second with 273.7 points and Jason Lamy-Chappuis was third for France with 265.2 points as World Cup leader and pre-event favourite Anssi Koivuranta of Finland had to settle for fourth place with 260.2 points.

Lodwick originally retired from his sport in March 2006 but returned to action this season. He will now go down in history as the only world champion in the mass start format which has been scrapped again in an overhaul of the sport.

The competition was originally due to be held Thursday but adverse weather denied the jumping portion to be held. (dpa)