The IOF's 2016 athlete of the year began the race fifth after a chasing start but took advantage of slip-ups by those in front of her.

Denmark's Maja Alm and Sweden's Helena Jansson began in the top two, just two seconds apart, but made a small mistake at control 13.

It allowed Alexandersson to make up a deficit of 1min 31sec and she was the strongest and most accurate throughout.

The Swede, who won the long-distance and middle-distance double at both the World and European Championships in 2016, was victorious by 27 seconds with Jansson second.

Alm was a further four seconds adrift in third.

In the men's event, Magne Dæhli of Norway claimed a narrow two second victory in front of Sweden's William Lind.

Dæhli started 16th behind lead runner Martin Regborn of Sweden, but made up a gap of more than three minutes.

He came through the last control first before charging home for victory.

Emil Svensk, another Swede, came third, three seconds behind the Norwegian.