The defending World Cup champion came out on top in the final in 2 min 57.65sec.

He was followed in the standings by compatriots Haavard Solaas Taugboel and Eirik Brandsdal.

Taugboel finished 0.65 seconds behind, while Brandsdal was a further 0.04 seconds back in third.

Victory extends Klaebo's advantage in the men's sprint World Cup standings to 145 points.

The 23-year-old sits on 550 points with fellow Norwegian Erik Valnes, who finished sixth today, second on 405.

In the overall standings, Klaebo remains in second place on 1,663 points.

He is 410 points behind Russia's Alexander Bolshunov, the fifth-place finisher today.

In the women's sprint freestyle final, Sweden's Jonna Sundling took victory in 2:38.41.

Switzerland's Nadine Fähndrich was 0.24 seconds behind in the silver medal position and the podium was rounded off by Sweden's Linn Svahn, who was 0.39 seconds back.

Svahn tops the women's sprint World Cup standings on 509 points, 23 clear of second placed Sundling.

Overall World Cup leader Therese Johaug and fellow Norwegian Heidi Weng did not compete today.

Johaug has 2,368 points to her name, while Weng has 1,647.

The FIS Cross-Country World Cup is due to continue in Norway's capital Oslo this weekend.

A women's 30 kilometres classic mass start event is scheduled to take place on Saturday (March 7).

It will be followed by a men's 50km classic mass start competition on Sunday (March 8).