Espen Andersen stepped atop a World Cup podium for the first time in his career after triumphing alongside team-mate Jørgen Graabak in an overall time of 35 min 02.4sec.

The duo beat surprise runners-up Miroslav Dvořák and Tomáš Portyk of the Czech Republic by just 0.3 seconds in a sprint to the finish line.  

Italy’s Alessandro Pittin and Samuel Costa rounded out the podium on home snow, 0.9 seconds behind the winners.

The German duo of Terence Weber and Fabian Rießle topped the ski jumping standings with 253.9 points, giving them a five-second advantage over nearest challengers Andersen and Graabak going into the cross-country.

They finished down in fifth though, 11.6sec back with Rießle unable to fully close the gap that had opened up in Weber’s last lap.

Graabak made the most of his position in the middle lane to claim victory by a matter of centimetres ahead of Dvořák to his right.

Germany continue to lead the overall Nations Cup standings on 3,175 points after 11 of 25 events.

Norway are second on 1,470 points, while Austria are third on 1,454.

Germany have won all nine of this season’s individual events and the only previous team event in Norwegian town Lillehammer last month.

Action in Val di Fiemme is due to conclude tomorrow with the second of two individual events.

The first, held yesterday, saw Eric Frenzel of Germany extend his lead in the World Cup standings after claiming his fifth victory of the season.

Frenzel has 734 points to his name, 64 more than second-placed compatriot Johannes Rydzek.

Rießle is 238 points off the pace in third.