Alexandersson, a five-time world champion who is looking for a fourth consecutive overall World Cup crown, had the opportunity to gain ground this weekend as her nearest challenger Maja Alm of Denmark is not competing.

She made mistakes in the middle distance race on Friday (August 25) and finished fifth but was virtually error-free today.

The Swede led for all but the first half-kilometre and won by 39 seconds, clocking 15min 22sec on a complex course which featured flat and steep sections.

Russia's Natalia Gemperle, the middle distance winner, came second on 16:01 as Switzerland's Sabine Hauswirth was timed at 16:04 for third place.

In the men's sprint event, Czech Republic's Vojtech Kral clinched his maiden World Cup victory.

He was never more than 11 seconds down on the lead and won in a time of 15:08.

Kral's previous best World Cup finish had been sixth.

Jerker Lysell of Sweden was second in 15:13 and third went to Switzerland's Matthias Kyburz, the defending overall World Cup champion, on 15:15.