Podium sweeps for Sweden and Norway at cross country in Oberhof

Linn Svahn led a podium sweep for Sweden in the first of three cross country World Cup races in Oberhof, Germany, on Friday.

Svahn clocked 3 minutes 04.05 seconds in the final sprint heat to defeat team-mates Frida Karlsson and Jonna Sundling. Sweden had four out of six athletes in the final, with Emma Ribom finishing last.

World Cup leader Jessie Diggins of the United States was ninth overall after failing to advance to the final.

In the men's race, it was Norway to take all the three positions on the podium, led by Erik Valnes' fastest time of 2:42.75 minutes.

Ansgar Evensen and Even Northug were second and third respectively.

World Cup leader Harald Østberg Amundsen, also representing Norway, missed the podium after finishing fourth, while defending champion Johannes Høsflot Klæbo didn't make it past the semi-finals.

Men and women's 20-kilometre mass starts are scheduled for Saturday.