Yet he felt obliged to compete in the relay, as Finland sent only four skiers, and there was no substitute. His first three teammates gained a two-minute lead, and Nurmela managed to finish more than a minute ahead of the competitors and win his third world title.
He was compelled to participate in the relay because of Finland's limited number of skiers and the lack of substitutes. His initial teammates gained a two-minute advantage, and Nurmela finished ahead of all competitors, winning his third world title.