After a great jump on the hill in Chaux Neuve (FRA), F-J Rehrl had an almost unassailable lead with just under 30 seconds in the only five-kilometer cross-country race on the first leg of the Chaux Neuve Triples. In the groups behind him nobody wanted to lose unnecessary seconds in terms of the overall standings, but the cooperation was not so perfect that he had been caught. Espen Bjørnstad and Fabian Rießle (GER) crossed the finish line at the same time after eleven minutes of skiing, but the photo finish finally made the decision in favor of the Norwegian with a strong second place finish and his first podium result. Akito Watabe (JPN, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) was narrowly beaten in the final sprint and finished fourth ahead of Mario Seidl (AUT, Fischer skis, bindings and boots). Yoshito Watabe (JPN, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) was unable to keep up with the group at a faster pace and finished sixth in front of Jarl Magnus Riiber (NOR, Fischer skis, bindings and boots), who won the final sprint of the second group. "I was still good in training, but now I wanted too much and hopefully the whole triple will not be lost", he said after the jump, which he finished only 12th with 1:02 minutes back. Eighth place went to Martin Fritz (AUT, Fischer skis, bindings and boots) ahead of Johannes Rydzek and Terence Weber (both GER, Fischer skis, bindings and boots).
