Sitting skier Nadezhda Fedorova, standing skier Anna Milenina and the visually impaired team of Mikhalina Lysova and Nikolay Polukhin crossed the line in 30min 45.9sec to lead home a Russian one-two in the 4x2.5 kilometres race.

Multiple world champion Polukhin, guided by Andrey Tokarev, was the athlete to wrap up a commanding success for his nation.

Their teammates Irina Gulieava and Aleksandr Davidovich, both sitting skiers, Elena Remizova with guide Natalia Yakimova and Stanislav Chokhlaev, guided by Oleg Kolodiichuk, finished narrowly behind the other Russian quartet to secure silver.

Ukraine claimed the final place on the podium as Iurii Utkin, guided by Ruslan Perekhoda and standing skiers Liudmyla Liashenko and Oleksandra Kononova, who completed two legs, did enough to seal bronze.

Having powered to victory in the 4x2.5km event, Russia then asserted their dominance of the IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country World Cup competition by winning the open relay over the same distance.

They had to do it the hard way, however, as six-time Paralympic champion Roman Petushkov struggled early on, leaving his nation in fifth after his opening leg.

Standing skiers Vladislav Lekomtsev and Ivan Kodlozerov fared slightly better as they moved Russia up to fourth, before Rushan Minnegulov seized control of the race and guided his country to a surprise comeback triumph in a total time of 28:18.8.

Iaroslav Reshetynskiy, guided by Artur Gergardt, and Anatolli Kovalevskyi and guide Oleksandr Mukshyn, standing skier Ihor Reptyukh and sit-skier Maksim Yarovyi, sealed another medal for Ukraine as they clinched silver.

They finished ahead of France, with Benjamin Daviet skiing two legs to help his team, which also included Anthony Chalencon and guide Lucas Duperrex, and Thomas Clarion, guided by Antoine Bollet, to bronze.

As a result of adverse weather conditions in Finsterau, the long distance cross-country event has been brought forward from Thursday (February 25) to tomorrow.