With Holmenkollen stadium packed with flag waving Norwegians, Petter Northug provided the inspiration trampling the field in a breathtaking sprint to the finish and a successful defense of the World 30k pursuit gold medal.

After an hour and ten minutes of racing, the final margin between Northug and silver medalist Maxim Vylegzhanin was 0.7 seconds.

The field remained compact throughout the first classical portion of the race with the few breakaways caught by the pack. It wasn't until near the end of the free technique portion of the race, with Sjur Roethe of Norway leading the pace that the action heated up with Canada's Alex Harvey attacking. The pack hunted him down and at the final uphill, entering the huge stadium, Northug made his move, got a crease between he and Russians Vylegzhanin and Ilia Chernousox and turned on the jets.

“I thought to myself this is probably the only possibility I will ever get to win a gold medal at my home track,” said Northug, saying the roar of the crowd helped power him to the win. “This is the biggest thing you can experience. This has been my biggest dream ever since I discovered there would be a Nordic World Championships in Oslo. It is fantastic to have such luck and stand here. The audience was fantastic.”

Vylegzhanin said he was pleased with the silver medal. “I attacked in the second to last uphill before the stadium but Petter was faster,” he said. He added that the Russian plan had been to remain in contact with the leaders throughout the race. “When Alex Harvey flew away we controled the gap so that he did not break away completely,” he said.

Chernousov suggested the Russians should prove strong in the relay, noting that Alexander Legkov could have joined them on the podium had he not fallen and broken a pole.

The win was Northug's third individual world title, plus two relay gold medals from 2007 and 2009.

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