Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and Nadine Faehndrich clinch sprint successes in Tour de Ski event

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo won his fifth FIS cross-country skiing World Cup event of the season by taking the sprint in the opening race of the Tour de Ski, with Switzerland's Nadine Faehndrich beating all comers in the women's race. Klaebo began the season reeling off three straight wins, and added another.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo claimed his fifth FIS cross-country skiing World Cup win of the season by clinching the sprint in the opening race of the Tour de Ski, with Switzerland's Nadine Faehndrich taking the women's race.

Klaebo opened the season with three successive victories, adding another on home snow in Lillehammer.

And as the Tour de Ski got underway in Val Muestair, he was back on the top step of the podium after coming through the rounds of the sprint freestyle.

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Klaebo won his quarter-final and semi-final before taking the final in 3:00.98 seconds, 18 hundredths clear of Italy's Federico Pellegrino, who he overhauled on the final bend. Norway's Sindre Bjoernestad Skar completed the podium.

The win was enough to move Klaebo back top of the sprint World Cup standings, while he sits second in the overall behind compatriot Paal Golberg, who went out in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, in the women's race, home favourite Faehndrich lived up to the billing as favourite as she made it three successive sprint victories.

After wins in Beitostoelen and Davos, she emulated Klaebo in winning her quarter-final, semi-final and final, taking the victory in a time of 3:23.56 ahead of Sweden's Maja Dahlqvist.

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Lotta Udnes Weng of Norway finished third, with twin sister Tiril Udnes Weng fourth, enough to stay top of both the sprint and overall World Cup standings.

The competition continues in Switzerland on New Year's Day with the 10km pursuit for both men and women.

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