Canada picked up their first win in the men's 20 kilometres visually impaired race as the discipline's two-time and reigning Paralympic champion Brian McKeever, guided by Erik Carleton, clocked a time of 48min 38.50sec.

He finished comfortably ahead of Russia's Stanislav Chokhlaev, guided by Evgenii Fatkhullin, in 53:21.30, and Ukraine's Anatolii Kovalevskyi, guided by Oleksandr Mukshyn, in 55:00.50.

This was followed up by success for Chris Kebl in the men's 15km sitting event, as he posted a winning time of 40:24.00 in a closely fought race.

Kebl, a gold medallist in the 10km sitting event at Sochi 2014, crossed the line just 1.3 seconds faster than Russia's Aleksandr Davidovich, whose team-mate Alexey Bychenok took the bronze medal in 41:21.8.

Russia's Iuliia Budaleeva claimed the women's 15km visually impaired crown at the Nordic Skiing World Cup finals in Surnadal ©Getty Images



Russia more than made up for missing gold medals in these two disciplines thanks to victories for Iuliia Budaleeva in the women's 15km visually impaired race and Rushan Minnegulov in the men's 20km standing event.

World champion Budaleeva, guided by Tatiana Maltseva, registered a time of 43:14.9 and was joined on the podium by Ukraine's Oksana Shyshkova, guided by Lada Nesterenko, in 43:57.1, and teammate Elena Remizova, guided by Maksim Pirogov, in 44:27.5.

Minnegulov, also a world champion, won with a time of 49:28.00 and was followed by Ukraine's Ihor Reptyukh in 50:41.50, and Norway's Hakon Olsrud in 52:07.8.

Elsewhere, the United States' Oksana Masters continued her good form from the previous World Cup event in Asahikawa as she posted a time of 36:44.90 to claim the women's 12km sitting title.

Home favourite Mariann Marthinsen had to settle for second place to Masters with a time of 37:37.70, while Russia's Natalia Kocherova took the bronze medal in 39:14.60.

There was also a gold medal for Ukraine in the women's 15km standing event as world champion Oleksandra Kononova clocked a time of 44:04.70 to finish ahead of Canada's Brittany Hurdak in 44:35.80, and fellow Ukrainian Liudmyla Liashenko in 44:49.80.

The action in Surnadal continues through to Sunday (March 22) with middle distance classic cross-country, as well as short, pursuit and long distance biathlon all set to feature.

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