Fletchers Blaze in Cross Country

CHAUX-NEUVE, France (Jan. 23, 2016) - After a month long break, the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup finally got back underway at Chaux-Neuve in the Jura Mountains. Americans Bryan and Taylor Fletcher (Steamboat Springs, CO) led the way, finishing 19th and 20th. Taylor recorded the fastest cross country time, with Bryan third.

“It felt great to be back on the circuit. The weather was awesome for the comp today and I am happy with my performance,” Bryan Fletcher said. “I have been slowly making progress towards a higher level on the jump hill and the cross country was great today. I felt strong and skied a smart race especially considering I was in the front quite a lot during the race pulling a strong group.”

Germany’s Eric Frenzel took a 4.7 second victory over Austrian Bernhard Gruber with Akito Watabe of Japan, the jump leader, third. The race debuted a new cross country course in Chaux-Neuve with athletes doing five laps on the two kilometer course.

In the morning jump, Bryan Fletcher soared to 29th with Taylor 33rd. That put Bryan a minute, 46 seconds back in the cross country, with Taylor another 12 seconds behind. By the midway mark, Taylor hooked up with Bryan and the two skied together, working their way through the pack.

The World Cup continues Sunday with a second individual event.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Germany’s Fabian Riessle was fifth to retain his overall World Cup lead.
• Taylor Fletcher set the pace with the fastest 10k cross country time, with Bryan Fletcher third.
   

QUOTES

Bryan Fletcher
It felt great to be back on the circuit. The weather was awesome for the comp today and I am happy with my performance. I have been slowly making progress towards a higher level on the jump hill and the cross country was great today. I felt strong and skied a smart race especially considering I was in the front quite a lot during the race pulling a strong group.

Taylor Fletcher
Today was a pretty decent day. I had a better comp round jump but still not where I know I can be. The race was a great race but it looks better on paper with the fastest time, but I feel that I can ski it much better.

In some places on the course I was in the wrong position, which caused me to work harder to get back towards the front of the group. I am looking forward to (Sunday) as each jump has been better, and my day two races have been my best this year so far.

RESULTS
Nordic Combined HS118/10k Individual Gundersen