The Sochi 2014 Olympic silver medallist was second following the ski jumping phase but crossed the line first following the five kilometre ski.

Watabe, who won the Ruka Tour at the start of the season, won his second World Cup event of the campaign to start the Triple - which features three events in as many days - in fine fashion.

Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber won the ski jumping as he leaped 108.5 metres for 142.4 points.

This gave him a 21 second head-start in the ski over Watabe, who jumped 104.5m for a points tally of 137.1.

Riiber was then caught by Watabe after the first half of the opening lap, and the Japanese then out-sprinted his rival to take victory after they spent time together.

The Norwegian was timed at 11:22.8 as Germany's Fabian Rießle, fifth after the ski jumping, won bronze in 11:54.7.

Norway's World Cup leader Jan Schmid was fourth as Germany's defending overall champion Eric Frenzel, who has won every edition of the Seefeld Triple, continued his disappointing season by coming 11th.

The best 50 athletes have advanced to tomorrow's event where the cross-country ski will be over 10km.

On Sunday (January 28), a 15km race will follow the jumping.

As well as competing to win the Triple outright, athletes will also be bidding for World Cup points at each leg.

Schmid now leads on 608 but Watabe has narrowed the gap and has 495 in second.

Germany's Johannes Rydzek is third on 446. 

Cross-Country World Cup action will also begin in Seefeld tomorrow, as the resort tests its preparations for the 2019 Nordic World Championships.