PYEONGCHANG -- Hounded by a trio of German skiers from the beginning of the 10-kilometer cross-country race, Akito Watabe ran out of steam in the final kilometer and had to witness the Nordic combined gold slip out of his hands once again.
The 29-year-old finished fifth in the large hill event on Tuesday at the Alpensia Cross-Country Center, as Germans swept the podium: Johannes Rydzek won the gold medal, Fabian Riessle took the silver, and Eric Frenzel, winner of the normal hill event on Feb. 14, grabbed the bronze.
"I can see the summit in my sight, but I still don't know how to reach it," said Watabe.
He had missed his earlier chance at gold when he finished second in the normal hill event.
Watabe started the cross-country race in pole position after pulling off a 134-meter jump in the ski jump portion. However, he voiced concern before the 10-kilometer race as the German trio placed close to each other in fourth, fifth and sixth. "I believe the Germans will cooperate and fiercely chase after me," Watabe said at the time.
The race unfolded exactly the way Watabe predicted. He started with Jarl Magnus Riiber of Norway on his heels. Frenzel started fourth and was soon joined by Rydzek and Riessle to form a pack. The Germans rotated the lead of their pack as they steadily shaved down Watabe's lead.
They caught Watabe and Riiber around the six-kilometer mark. Watabe maintained his lead until the last kilometer, but he went slightly off balance while in the pack and sunk to the back. He did not have the power to chase the Germans when they pulled away from the group.
"The race unfolded in the worst way possible. Nothing has gone according to my hopes," Watabe said.
Japanese fans were blank-faced after the race. "I can hardly speak -- it was so scary watching Watabe's lead being cut into by the German skiers," said Akiko Yabe, 49, from Kitamoto, Saitama Prefecture.
"I'm disappointed with the result, but it was a really good race. I felt Watabe's fighting spirit," said Yuta Ueno, from Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture, who was with his wife and daughter at the Games.
"I hope he and the other Japanese skiers do well in the team event," the 36-year old said.
The team event will take place on Thursday.
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