Double relay victory for Norway in Ulricehamn

The women's team - consisting of Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg, Heidi Weng, Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen and Marit Bjoergen - stopped the clock in a time of 50:33.3 minutes to take victory in the 4x5km relay.

It was a comfortable win with the second-place German quartet finishing 8.8 seconds back, in what was a three-horse race to the line for the remaining two podium spots with Sweden and the USA also in contention.

Sweden were the ones to clinch third place, 0.2 seconds back, with Germany's silver medal marking their first podium spot in the event since 2010.

Bjoergen said: "It was closer at the end than I thought.

"I think I did a good race. When I crossed the finish line, I saw the other girls were only 100m behind me."

In the men's 4x7.5km relay event, nine teams were in contention for the medals with just two kilometres to go, separated by a mere 3.8 seconds.

It was Norway who eventually prevailed, crossing the line in a time of 1:06:47.5, just 0.5 seconds quicker than both Sweden and Canada who took second and third place respectively - the latter's first ever men's relay World Cup podium finish.

Canada's Devon Kershaw said: "It's a first time podium for Canada in the relay.

"I have been waiting my whole career for this. All the guys did a great job today."

Sportsbeat 2017