In the men's event, Petter Northug Jr posted a time of 3min 02.35sec to finish 0.05 seconds ahead of Canada's Alex Harvey and 0.35 seconds clear of compatriot Ola Vigen Hattestad, the Sochi 2014 sprint champion.

Northug was forced to lunge forward at the line to hold off Harvey, as the lead he had established going into the final straight was gradually closed over the final 50 metres.

The victory marks his first world title in an individual sprint and increases his overall gold medal tally to 10.

It also completes his collection of gold medals at the World Championships and Olympics, having won world titles in the relay and the three individual long-distance disciplines - 15 kilometres, 30km skiathlon and 50km - and Olympic golds in the team sprint and the 50km at Vancouver 2010.

Marit Bjørgen takes first place in the women's cross-country sprint ©Getty Images



In the women's event, Marit Bjørgen crossed the line in 3min 26.63sec to fend off Sweden's Stina Nilsson in second, 0.42 seconds off the pace, and fellow countrywoman and Sochi 2014 sprint champion Maiken Caspersen Falla in the bronze-medal position, 0.99 seconds back.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist went from third to first in the final stretch to earn her 13th career world title.

The action in Falun recommences on Saturday (21 February) with the men's and women's skiathlon, following a rest day tomorrow. 

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