Makarainen takes first win of season to move into sprint World Cup lead

The 34-year-old had racked up four podium places so far this season, without taking a win, but all that changed as the Finn shot a clear round and completed the course in 20:51.8 – 22 seconds ahead of closest rival and overall World Cup leader Gabriela Koukalova.

The Czech skier leads the overall standings by 21 points ahead of Germany's Laura Dahlmeier, who came third in Saturday's sprint, 30.1 seconds behind Makarainen.

With two sprint podiums already this season, the win puts Makarainen into the lead in the sprint standings, topping the table with 251 points – 25 ahead of Koukalova with France's Marie Dorin Habert in third on 205.

Habert came fourth in Ruhpolding, 48.6 seconds behind Makarainen, with Italy's Dorothea Wierer a further 9.1 seconds behind.

But it was Makarainen's day as she showed the sprinting form that took her to silver the 2015 World Championships and 10km pursuit gold in the same year.

Sportsbeat 2017