Birthday girl Bjoergen ends World Cup season in style

MARIT Bjoergen celebrated her 30th birthday in style as she claimed the final women's cross-country skiing World Cup race of the season with a 10km handicap victory in Falun.

IN FORM: Norway's Marit Bjoergen claimed her second victory in 24 hours in the final race of the World Cup season in Sweden (Getty Images)

The Norwegian, who finished second behind Justyna Kowalczyk in the overall World Cup standings, claimed her second win in 24 hours, mastering the driving snow to cross the line in 31 minutes, 58 seconds.

Poland's Kowalczyk, who was assured the title before the final race, finished just over 51 seconds behind in second to break through the 2000 point barrier for the season while Sweden's Charlotte Kalla was third.

Kowalczyk also wins the crystal globes for the distance and sprint disciplines, capping off a season which also includes a Tour de Ski title and gold in the Olympic 30km.

Slovakia's Petra Majdic - who has been absent since early February due to injury - still claimed third spot in the overall standings ahead of Finland's Aino Kaisa Saarinen.

Meanwhile, the race saw the retirement of former World Cup and world champion, Finland's Virpi Kuitunen.