In the women's race, Finnish home favourite Salla Koskela had looked in control of the race at the Kallin Skicenter, and was nearly one minute clear after five kilometres.

However, a mistake on the last map exchange allowed Lindkvist, her compatriot Frida Sandberg and Norway's Anna Ulvensøen to significantly close the hap.

In the end, Lindkvist prevailed by nine seconds with her time of 1hour 10min 45sec.

Koskela held on for silver, pipping Ulvensøen to second place by two seconds.

Sandberg placed fourth in 1:11.09, with yesterday's sprint champion Daisy Kudre Schnyder of Estonia taking fifth with her time of 1:11.52.

The men's race was won comfortably by Baklid after he went clear on the second loop.

The Norwegian's time of 1:09.02 enabled him to triumph by 34 seconds over Finland's Tuomas Kotro, who took silver for the second day running following the sprint yesterday.

Nicola Müller of Switzerland took bronze, climbing from eighth into third on the final loop.

He finished in 1:10.03, with Finnish pair Eevert Toivoinen and Ville Petteri Saarela three and 16 seconds further back respectively.

Tomorrow is a rest day at the World Championships, with the middle distance races scheduled for Friday (March 18).