While he had never done better than 13th in the World Cup before this weekend, Baud managed three superb days at Ruka with an 11th place on Friday, a 7th place on Saturday then his feat on Sunday, where he did not was preceded only by the boss of the discipline, the Norwegian Jarl Magnus Riiber, quadruple winner of the general classification.
The Frenchman finished 18th and 21st in the two individual events contested in February at the Beijing Olympics.
The Blues had been struggling in Nordic combined since the end of the golden generation led by 2010 Olympic champion Jason Lamy-Chpuis.
France had not had an individual podium since François Braud in March 2017 (2nd in Schonach).
Mattéo Baud, junior world vice-champion in 2021, took advantage of an unusual competition format on Sunday with a cross-country ski race in mass start then a jump (large hill), highlighting his qualities as a jumper.
The skier, originally from Doubs, is the son of former member of the France team Frédéric Baud.
