The 25-year-old surprised the women’s field during the 10 kilometre technique competition, as she produced the best time in the interval start event.

Østberg crossed the finish line in a time of 23min 20.1sec, with the overall Ski Tour Canada leader Heidi Weng proving her closest challenger, as she came home 23 seconds off the pace of her compatriot.

Finland’s Krista Parmakoski was able to prevent another all-Norwegian podium, as she finished just 0.1 seconds ahead of Kari Oeyre Slind to finish third in a time of 23:44.6.

“I never thought I would win 10km skate,” said Østberg afterwards.

“I thought that was the weakest event for me.

“I did not feel I was fast, it is a great day for me.”

Having finished as the runner-up, Weng extended her lead in the overall classification over Therese Johaug, with her fellow Norwegian lying 30 seconds down heading into tomorrow’s final stage.

The contenders for the men’s title were absent from the podium at the end of stage seven, with Finland’s Matti Heikkinen claiming his first World Cup win for five years.

The 2011 world champion crossed the line, at the end of the 15km event, in a time of 35:16.3 to claim the stage win.

Russia’s Evgeniy Belov was 13.6 adrift of the winner in second, while Sweden's Marcus Hellner completed the podium in a time of 35:30.2.

With the overall leader Sergey Ustiugov ending in 12th place on the stage, ending a minute behind the winner, Norway’s Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Petter Northug were able to close on the Russian.

Ustiugov will begin the final stage with a 32.3 second advantage over Northug, while Sundby is 39.6 adrift of the race leader.

The World Cup and Ski Tour Canada will draw to a close tomorrow with women’s 10km and men’s 15km pursuit events.