Johannes Høsflot Klæbo has won both of the World Cup sprint classic events so far this season ©Getty Images

Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo will be looking to keep up his 100 per cent record in the classic sprint event this season as the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country World Cup gets back underway in Planica.

Among his seven victories in the first ten World Cup events of the season across all disciplines the 21-year-old won both of the classic sprint events earlier this season, in Ruka, Finland, and Lillehammer, Norway.

However, he has failed to claim the top prize in any of the last eight World Cup events, so will be hoping the sprint will see him return to the top.

The Norwegian will undoubtedly be the favourite for the sprint race at the Slovenian venue as he currently leads the rankings and has finished on the podium in six of his last seven sprint World Cup appearances.

His closest challenger is likely to be Federico Pellegrino of Italy, who will be looking for his first back-to-back sprint wins for the first time since January 2016 after his victory in the free sprint in Dresden, Germany, last time out.

Additionally, the 27-year-old is the only athlete to match Klæbo in total sprint final appearances this season with four.

Klæbo is also likely to be a frontrunner in the 15 kilometres classic, taking place on Sunday.

However, Switzerland’s Dario Cologna should push him close having won the last 15km C event on home snow in Lenzerheide.

Klæbo’s compatriot Martin Johnsrud Sundby, a four-time Olympic medal winner, will also be a name to look out for as he currently holds the yellow bib with an overall rankings lead of 43 points.

Stina Nilsson won four sprint events on the bounce last year ©Getty Images
Stina Nilsson won four sprint events on the bounce last year ©Getty Images

As is the case with Pellegrino in the men's, Sweden’s Hanna Falk will be hoping to claim back-to-back sprint wins after claiming gold in Dresden last weekend.

The favourite, however, is her compatriot Stina Nilsson, who recorded four straight sprint victories between February and November 2017 and currently tops the World Cup sprint rankings.

The Sochi 2014 bronze medallist won the opening sprint classic event of the World Cup season in Ruka in November.

The gold medal in the 10km classic is likely to be contested between two Norwegians, Ingvild Flugstad Østberg and Heidi Weng.

Østberg has won four 10km events so far this season whilst Weng is in terrific form with three gold medals in her last three World Cup distance races.

The event in Planica starts tomorrow with the men’s and women’s sprint before the event closes with the distance races on Sunday (January 21).