Norway’s Bredesen Takes Nordic Lead

Trond Arne Bredesen of Norway took the lead in the overall Nordic Combined World Cup standings by winning the season’s fourth event that was completed Sunday.

Bredesen, 21, led after Saturday’s ski jumping portion and stayed ahead of the field despite having only the 11th-fastest time in Sunday’s 15-kilometer cross country race.

The third World Cup victory of his career pushed Bredesen to the top of World Cup standings with 59 points.

Hippolyt Kempf of Switzerland, the Olympic champion, was favored to win the two-day event after finishing a solid sixth in the ski jumping portion. But the Swiss managed only the ninth place in the race, usually his stronger event, and had to settle for second place.

Kempf also trailed Bredesen in overall World Cup standings with 55 points.