Norway's Simen Hegstad Krüger recovered from an early fall to lead a Norwegian podium sweep in the men’s 15 kilometres + 15km skiathlon event here at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games ©Getty Images

Simen Hegstad Krüger recovered from an early fall to lead a Norwegian podium sweep in the men’s 15 kilometres + 15km skiathlon event here at the Winter Olympic Games.

The 24-year-old crossed the line in a time of 1 hour 16min 20sec at the Alpensia Cross-Country Skiing Centre.

Compatriots Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Hans Christer Holund claimed the silver and bronze medals respectively.

Sundby, the Sochi 2014 bronze medallist, finished eight seconds behind with Holund was a further 1.9 seconds back.

Krüger's victory, his second in major individual competition following his 15km freestyle International Ski Federation World Cup triumph in Italian resort Toblach in December 2017, came despite him falling to the ground just seconds after the mass start began.

The fall caused the Olympic Athlete from Russia’s Denis Spitsov and Andrey Larkov to topple over him.

"It is an indescribable feeling," Krüger said.

"It is an amazing day, but it started in the worst way with the fall after the first 100 metres and a broken pole."

Simen Hegstad Krüger waits for team-mates Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Hans Christer Holund as Norway completed a cleansweep in the men’s 15 kilometres + 15km skiathlon ©Getty Images
Simen Hegstad Krüger waits for team-mates Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Hans Christer Holund as Norway completed a cleansweep in the men’s 15 kilometres + 15km skiathlon ©Getty Images

Krüger added: "I was completely last in the group so I had to start the race again and switch focus to catch up with the guys.

"When I did it I was saying to myself, 'okay, take one lap, two laps, three laps and just get into it again, and try to do it on the final lap'.

"I knew that my chance was to go early and try to surprise the group."

Spitsov recovered from falling over Krüger to come fourth.

Defending champion Dario Cologna of Switzerland ended up in sixth place behind France’s Maurice Manificat.

"I'm a little disappointed and of course I was out to go for a medal but I was not strong enough in the end," Cologna, Switzerland's flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony on Friday (February 9), said.

"I felt a little bit tired and the Norwegian has been too strong."

Cross-country skiing action is due to resume on Tuesday (February 13), when the men’s and women’s sprint classic events take centre stage.