Karlsson tops women's 50km; Hagen clinches combined World Cup

Frida Karlsson led a Swedish one-two in the first ever women's 50 kilometres cross country ski World Cup race in classic style on Saturday in Oslo where Norway's Ida Marie Hagen then clinched the women's Nordic combined World Cup title.

Karlsson broke a leader group at the famed Holmenkollen ski centre after 30km to triumph in 2 hours 20 minutes 20.3 seconds for an 11th career victory.

Andersson was 1:19.3 adrift and Germany's Katharina Hennig won a sprint for third, another 5.9 seconds back. American World Cup leader Jessica Diggins was 11th, more than four minutes off the pace.

"It was a lot of fun. I worked so hard to get the gap," Karlsson said. "I had ice in my stomach as we say in Sweden," she added in reference to her cool composure during the race.

The first women's 50km came last year in Oslo, then in freestyle, after a decision that men and women would compete over the same distances at World Cup events. The 50km are only contested at the Norwegian venue. The longest women's race previously was 30km.

Hagen meanwhile fought from third after a Thursday ski jump to her eighth season victory in the 5km cross country pursuit as she led another Norwegian podium sweep 2.6 seconds ahead of Mari Leinan Lund and 37.9 clear of Gyda Westvold Hansen.

She clinched a first career World Cup title with one event to spare as the 2022 and 2023 champion Hansen can no longer catch her. Hagen made the podium in all 14 contested events, coming second in six events next to her eight wins.

Men's Nordic combined skiers and the ski jumpers are also at the Holmenkollen for weekend World Cup events, and the men's cross country skiers will have their 50km on Sunday.