The 23-year-old clocked a time of 2 hours 8min 5.3sec to beat Norway's Simen Hegstad Krüger by a slender margin of 0.9 seconds in tough conditions in Norway's capital.

Krüger's compatriot Emil Iversen rounded off the podium, finishing 19.5 seconds behind.

In the final 6.2km loop, Krüger pulled out all the energy he had left and only Bolshunov managed to stick with him.

Along the last stretch into the finish, both fought hard for the victory but the Russian managed to claim it.

"Me, the team and the skis were all working together perfectly today and I am very happy to win here," Bolshunov said.

"Because compared to Trondheim, where I had no possibility to do something with my skis, it was more important for me to win here today."

Victory extends Bolshunov's lead in the overall FIS Cross-Country World Cup standings.

He sits on 2,221 points, giving him a lead of 495 over Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who finished 15th today.

Another Norwegian, Pål Golberg, is third with 1,311 points after ranking 13th in Oslo.

In the distance standings, Bolshunov is setting the pace on 1,293 points.

Norway's Sjur Røthe is second with 864 points and Finland's Iivo Niskanen is third with 840.

Røthe finished seventh today, while Niskanen had to settle for a 16th-place finish.

Today's event took place in front of completely empty stands due to the precautions taken in regard to the coronavirus outbreak.