Johannes Høsflot Klæbo's teammates celebrate as he pulls away from Alexander Bolshunov to clinch gold for Norway ©Getty Images

Johannes Høsflot Klæbo withstood a fightback from Alexander Bolshunov to secure men’s cross-country relay gold for Norway at the International Ski Federation Nordic World Ski Championships in Oberstdorf.

It was a thrilling 4x10-kilometre race in the German town with the Russian Ski Federation (RSF) taking the lead before Norway took control.

Hans Christer Holund gave Norway a 25-second margin going into the final leg but Bolshunov made Klæbo work hard for the victory.

At the halfway point, Bolshunov had caught up with Klæbo but the Norwegian managed to find an extra gear to pull away to clinch an 11th successive men’s relay world title for his country.

The Norwegian team of Klæbo, Holund, Pål Golberg and Emil Iversen finished in a winning time of 1hr 52min 39.0sec.

"I was nervous but managed to get the race where I wanted it," said Klæbo in a report by Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang.

"I figured Bolshunov would catch up, but it suited me well."

Holund added: "I was very nervous for Klæbo and I imagined the worst.

"We have the world’s best anchorman on the team."

Aleksey Chervotkin, Ivan Yakimushkin, Artem Maltsev and Bolshunov had to settle for silver after finishing in 1:52:51.0.

Austria's Stefan Kraft celebrates after winning the men's ski jumping large hill competition in Oberstdorf ©Getty Images
Austria's Stefan Kraft celebrates after winning the men's ski jumping large hill competition in Oberstdorf ©Getty Images

The bronze medal went to the French team of Hugo Lapalus, Maurice Manificat, Clément Parisse and Jules Lapierre who completed the race in 1:53:51.6.

"I lost it in the descent before the last hill," Bolshunov told Russian newspaper Sport Express.

"I thought Klæbo would try to get past on the left side, but instead he came to the right.

"It's my fault.

"I tried several times, but he is not the type of athlete you can start behind, then catch up and run away."

Stefan Kraft claimed his third ski jumping world title and first since 2017 with victory in the large hill competition.

The Austrian landed jumps of 132.5 metres and 134m to register 276.5 points and clinch the gold medal.

Robert Johansson of Norway came second with 272.1 points after recording distances of 129.5 and 135.5.

Germany’s Karl Geiger picked up the bronze after registering jumps of 132m and 132m to score 267.4 points.

Competition continues tomorrow with the women’s cross-country 30km classical, the men’s Nordic combined team sprint and the men’s ski jumping team event.