Sweden and Norway pull off FIS cross-country sprint classic clean sweep victories in Oberhof

Linn Svahn led a Sweden 1-2-3 in the women's event as Erik Valnes headed a Norwegian top four in Germany. Norway did the same in the men's event, making up the top four as Erik Valnes topped the podium to strengthen his grip on the red bib. Svahn was joined on the podium by compatriots Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling, with Karlsson coming home just 0.33 seconds behind Svahn.

Sweden swept the FIS cross-country women's sprint classic finals in Oberhof as sprint World Cup leader Linn Svahn took victory in a time of 3:04.05.

Norway did the same in the men's event, making up the top four as Erik Valnes topped the podium to strengthen his grip on the red bib.

Svahn was joined on the podium by compatriots Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling, with Karlsson coming home just 0.33 seconds behind Svahn.

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Sundling crossed the line 2.06 seconds further back, but almost two seconds ahead of the nearest non-Swedish challenger, Kristine Stavaas Skistad of Norway.

Home hope Laura Gimmler of Germany finished in fifth as world silver medallist Emma Ribom was unable to make it four Swedes in the top four as she finished 14.19 seconds off the pace.

Overall cross-country World Cup leader, Jessie Diggins of the US failed to make it out of the semi-finals despite posting the fifth-fastest time across both semi-finals.

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Diggins missed out on a lucky loser spot by just 0.93 seconds to see second-placed Svahn close the gap in the overall standings to 268 points. while Svahn has stretched sprint her World Cup lead to 57 points.

Valnes sprinted home to just edge out team-mate Ansgar Evensen in a time of 2:42.75, with Even Northug completing the podium.

Valnes leads home Norway sweep of podium in cross-country men's sprint classic in Oberhof

Harald Oestberg Amundsen led the final at the halfway mark, but the overall World Cup leader could not live with the top three's pace as he came home in fourth.

Switzerland's Valerio Grond finished 6.74 seconds back as he missed out on a first World Cup podium while Ben Ogden of the USA came home last in the final.

Valnes has stretched his sprint World Cup lead to 62 points after nearest challenger, and fellow Norwegian, Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo managed only seventh.

Action continues in Oberhof with the 20km mass start classic on Saturday and the men's and women's relays on Sunday.

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