Dahlqvist triumphed in the classic sprint event in Ruka last week to open the season and was expected to be among the principle contenders in today’s freestyle event.

The Swedish skier topped qualification standings, before advancing from the quarter- and semi-finals stages of the competition.

Dahlqvist emerged as the winner of the six-skier final by finishing the event in a time of 3min 14.07sec, holding off the challenge of American Jessie Diggins and Norway’s Tiril Udnes Weng.

Diggins, last season's overall World Cup champion, finished as the runner-up at 0.35sec behind the winner.

The podium was completed by Weng, who ended in a time of 3:14.93.

Sweden’s Emma Ribom, the United States’ Rosie Brennan and Slovenia’s Anamarija Lampic rounded off the top six.

Dahlqvist now tops the overall World Cup standings, assuming the leader's bib from her compatriot Frida Karlsson.

Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo emerged as the winner of the men’s sprint competition.

His first win of the season was sealed by finishing the final in a time of 2:52.48.

A Norwegian top-two was completed by Thomas Helland Larsen, who ended 0.58sec off the pace of his compatriot.

France’s Richard Jouve was third at 0.78 down.

The result saw Klæbo assume the overall World Cup lead from Russia’s Alexander Bolshunov, who narrowly missed out on reaching the final.

The women’s 10 kilometres and men's 15km freestyle events will be held tomorrow.