Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid completed a Kontiolahti/ Otepää Hat trick this afternoon with his wire-to-wire 33:14.6 win. The Norwegian was never seriously challenged after the first standing stage that he cleaned while eventual second placed Emilien Jacquelin picked up two penalties. Laegreid’s win upped his podium streak up to nine consecutive competitions, with his three wins this season all withing the last 6 days.

Emilien Jacquelin got as close as three seconds after the second prone stage, but like everyone struggled with the wind and softening tracks, finishing second. with five penalties, 2:20.9 back. The USA’s Campbell Wright jumped for 21st at the start to finish in a season-best third place, 2:49.6 back.

Laegreid’s teammate Martin Uldal, with five penalties finished fourth, 2:53.9 back, just edging Sweden’s Sebastian Samuelsson, also with five penalties by .6 seconds. France’s Fabien Claude, with four penalties, rounded out the Flower Ceremony in sixth, 3:06.6 back.

Photos: IBU/Dmytro Yevenko, Nordic Focus