Winter sport news - Niskanen ends five-year wait for cross country gold

Kerttu Niskanen is celebrating the second Cross Country World Cup triumph of her career – more than five years after her first – with victory in Italy.

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

The 30-year-old finish skier topped the podium in the women's 10km event in Cogne, claiming World Cup glory for the first time since she won in Lenzerdeide, Switzerland, back in January 2014.

Niskanen crossed the line with a fine three-second lead over her nearest competitor, finishing in 27:24.8, narrowly ahead of Switzerlan's Nadine Faehndrich (27:27.8).

Russia's Natalia Nepryaeva came home third in 27:37.4 – she was the only athlete inside the top three in the distance World Cup standings to add to her points tally.

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Nepryaeva moves up to third on 518 points, with Norwegian duo Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg and Therese Johaug first and second respectively.

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