The Norwegian was hoping to get back to winning ways in the 1.2 kilometre classic technique event, having been hampered by illness during the last sprint race in Planica, Slovenia.

After finishing in first position in the quarter and semi-finals of the competition, Falla was the clear favourite for victory and justified that billing by crossing the line in a winning time of 2min 57.96sec.

Her team-mate Ingvild Flugstad Østberg proved the closest challenger in the final, but she was unable to prevent Falla joining fellow Norwegian Marit Bjørgen and Finland’s Virpi Kuitunen as a three-time winner,  ending  0.81sec adrift.

Bjørgen and Falla, however, were unable to earn their hat-trick of wins in consecutive years.

“I’m really happy to be healthy again and to be racing, it feels great to be back,” said Falla after her win on her home course.

“I love the track here in Drammen.

“It is amazing to win here three times in a row."

Sweden's Stina Nilsson had initially claimed the final place on the podium but due to obstructing Finland’s Krista Parmakoski in the closing stages, the winner in Planica was relegated to sixth.

Her penalty gave Russia’s Natalia Matveeva a first sprint podium finish since 2012, after she crossed the line 3.27 behind the winner.

Despite her sixth place finish, Nilsson remains the World Cup sprint leader having moved onto 414 points, with Østberg second on 396.

Meanwhile, in the men’s event Petter Northug led home a Norwegian clean sweep, with the world champion triumphing in 2:38.90.

Ola Vigen Hattestad and last year’s winner Eirik Brandsdal were locked in a battle for second position, with the final verdict decided by a photo finish.

Eventually Hattestad ended as the runner-up after ending 0.41 behind the winner, with his compatriot Brandsdal finishing a further 0.06 further back to take bronze.

Italy’s Federico Pellegrino, though, remains the clear leader of the sprint World Cup having racked up 405 points to date, with Northug second on 248.