Lilia Vasilieva, right, won the women's 15km cross-country skiing mass start race here today ©Almaty 2017

Lilia Vasilieva of Russia was victorious in the women's 15 kilometres cross-country skiing mass start race here at the 2017 Winter Universiade today.

Vasilieva made it difficult for herself in the early stages of the race at the Alatau Cross-Country Skiing & Biathlon Complex.

Despite leading after 5km, she then fell back to fourth at the halfway stage.

Vasilieva continued to trail her compatriot Anna Nechaevskaya with 2.4km to go but managed to overtake her rival to sneak into first place in a time of 44min 9.7sec.

Nechaevskaya was forced to settle for second and the silver medal in 44:11.7. 

Today’s gold was Lilia Vasilieva’s fifth medal of the 2017 Winter Universiade ©Almaty 2017
Today’s gold was Lilia Vasilieva’s fifth medal of the 2017 Winter Universiade ©Almaty 2017

Kazakhstan's Anna Shevchenko rounded out the podium in 44:17.5 despite leading the race at the halfway stage.

Today’s gold was Vasilieva’s fifth medal on what has been a stunning few weeks for the 22-year-old who studies at the Samara State University.

She has also tasted success in the 3x5km relay and 5km individual events.

Completing her impressive haul are two silver medals in both the 5km pursuit and women’s sprint events.