Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla earned victory in the women's competition ©Getty Images

Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla edged Olympic gold medallist Jonna Sundling to win the women’s classic sprint event as the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross Country World Cup continued in Drammen.

Falla crossed the line in first place in both her quarter and semi-final races during the home event in Norway, which saw her advance to the six-woman final.

The 31-year-old battled newly crowned Olympic champion Sundling in the final, with less than a second separating the two skiers at the end of the event.

Falla, the Sochi 2014 Olympic gold medallist and two-times world champion, triumphed in a time of 2min 52.31sec.

She crossed the line 0.53 seconds clear of Sweden’s Sundling, who was left settling for second place.

The result gave Falla her first World Cup win of the season.

The top three was completed by Slovenia’s Anamarija Lampic, who finished 1.97 seconds behind the winner.

Lampic has now secured four podium finishes during the World Cup season, ending third on each occasion.

Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist, who finished fourth, remains top of the World Cup sprint standings on 576 points.

Lampic is second on 421 with just one sprint race remaining.

Natalya Nepryaeva remains top of the overall World Cup standings, despite being unable to compete due to Russian athletes being banned as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Nepryaeva has 973 points with United States’ Jessie Diggins second on 721.

As a result of the invasion, the FIS has also cancelled the remaining three races of the season scheduled for Tyumen in Russia.

Only three races remain in the season in Oslo and Falun.

France’s Richard Jouve triumphed in the men's competition in Drammen ©Getty Images
France’s Richard Jouve triumphed in the men's competition in Drammen ©Getty Images

France’s Richard Jouve claimed his maiden World Cup victory by triumphing in the men’s competition in Drammen.

The 27-year-old enjoyed a dominant day, after posting the fastest time in qualification before winning his quarter, semi-final and final races.

He crossed the line in the final in a winning time of 2:32.84.

The two-times Olympic bronze medallist clinched the 13th World Cup podium finish of his career, but first victory.

China’s Wang Qiang was second at 1.59 down, with France’s Lucas Chanavat third at 2.32 behind the winner.

World Cup leader Johannes Høsflot Klæbo was absent after contracting COVID-19, following a reported outbreak in the Norwegian squad.

The five-times Olympic champion has 1,375 points, giving him a healthy advantage over Russia's second-placed Alexander Bolshunov on 878 points.

Bolshunov cannot compete again this season due to the ban on athletes from Russia and Belarus.