Cologna achieves career first with triumph in Oslo

Cologna emerged from a pack of seven skiers that broke away inside the final five kilometres to cross the line in 2:01:48.1 hours, narrowly ahead of Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway and Russia's Maxim Vylegzhanin.

It was the Swiss' fifth World Cup win of the season, adding to the 15km freestyle gold he claimed at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang last month, and 26th individual World Cup triumph of his career.

None of the previous 25 had come over a distance greater than 35km but the 31-year-old broke new ground to pip home favourite Sundby on the line.

Aside from the podium finishers, two more Norwegian skiers were in the leading group – Sjur Roethe finishing fourth and Hans Christer Holund coming sixth – along with fifth-placed Denis Spitsov of Russia and Great Britain's Andrew Musgrave, who ultimately crossed the line in seventh.

Cologna moves top of the distance World Cup standings with two events remaining – 30 points ahead of Sundby – and up to second in the overall World Cup standings, now trailing Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo by 224 points.

Sportsbeat 2018