Saarinen storms to world 10km gold

FINLAND'S Aino Kaisa Saarinen has begun the Nordic Skiing World Championships in ominous form in Liberec, wth gold in the 10km classic.

STRONG FINN-ISH: Aino Kaisa Saarinen wins gold in opening World Championship race (Getty Images)

The 30-year-old Olympic champion, who began the race as heavy favourite, cruised to victory in 28:12.8 minutes, to add to the 2007 world 4 x 5 km gold she captured in 2007.

Silver went to Italy's Marianna Longa, who also took silver last time out in the Valdidentro World Cup, while Poland's Justyan Kowalczyk - who topped the podium last week - took bronze.

Saarinen seized the lead immediately and posted the fastest time at both major intervals before holding off a late rally by Longa over the final stretch. Kowalczyk was second for much of the race, but tired over the last two kilometres.

---

RELATED: Cologna and Kuitunen win Tour de Ski titles

---

It is Saarinen who tops the overall cross-country podium but Kowalczyk who leads the way in the 10km discipline.

Fellow Finn Virpi Kuitunen, a three-time 2007 gold medallist,  had to settle for fourth.