Kuitunen outlasts Steira

After having missed the two previous individual events at the championship due to health problems, the Finn came in ahead of Norwegians Kristin Stoermer Steira and 18 year-old Therese Johaug to take the title.

Kuitunen's previous two golds at the championships had come in team events.

With distance world ranking leader Katerina Neumannova sitting out the race, Kuitunen went into the event as heavy favourite, especially as she has been in such fine form in classical races this season.

She didn't disappoint either as she timed her run to perfection, by taking control in the second-half of the race before eventually just edging out Steira in a fantastic dual.

The Tour de Ski winner eventually crossed the line just 6.9 seconds ahead of the Norwegian.

Johaug's performance in taking bronze will also send shockwaves throughout the women's Nordic circuit.

The teenager has only ever competed in two World Cup races, but despite her lack of experience, she showed amazing talent to get into the medals in her first world cup race, and even lead at the first split at 11.25 km.

Fourth place went to Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland, while Slovenia's Petra Majdic was fifth.

Marit Bjoergen, who won this event in Oberstdorf back in 2005, could only finish ninth.

The World Championships conclude tomorrow with the men's 50km classic mass start race.