Neumannova romps to gold

The 34-year-old, who also won the 30km freestyle mass start at last year's Olympics, posted a time of 23:58.4 to win by over 26 seconds.

15km pursuit champion Olga Savialova took silver, 3.7 seconds quicker than Italy's Arianna Follis who gained her first individual medal at a major Championship.

Neumannova was edged out by half a second in the pursuit by Savialova and the pair were seperated by just seven seconds on the clock at the halfway point.

But then the defending champion produced a devastating burst to surge clear of her rivals, adding 19 seconds to her lead over the Russian in the space of 3.3km.

29-year-old Follis overturned an eight second deficit on fading Norwegian Kristin Stoermer Steira, winner of the bronze in the pursuit, in the final 1.7km to add another bronze to the ones she gained in the relays at Oberstdorf, two years ago, and in Turin.

Swedish teenager Charlotte Kalla was a surprise fifth while two-time defending World Cup champion Marit Bjoergen fell and could only manage 22nd place.