Home knowledge of the sandstone terrain made the difference for Nykodym in the Czech capital as he took a longer but faster route to compete the race in 35min and 17sec.

Andreas Kyburz of Switzerland was 51 seconds behind him, finishing in 36:08 in second.

Third place went to Austria’s Gernot Ymsen Kerschbaumer, whose time of 36:34 seconds pushed Czech athlete Pavel Kubat into fourth.

Kubat finished in 36:43 as Gustav Bergman of Sweden completed the top five in 36:58.

Leading the World Cup standings is Kyburz who finished ninth in 38:00.

Olav Lundanes of Sweden, who is second overall, finished 13th with third placed Daniel Hubmann finishing 18th today.

In the women's event, Sweden took first and third through Karolin Ohlsson and Lina Strand respectively.

Ohlsson posted a time of 38:30, one minute and ten seconds in front of second place.

Switzerland's Julia Jakob was second in a time of 39:40, just one second in front of Strand.

Norway's Kamilla Olaussen was fourth in 40:24 seconds as Sabine Hauswirth of Switzerland took fifth in 40:51.

Sweden's Tove Alexandersson finished tenth, three minutes and 24 seconds behind the leader but it makes no difference to her overall World Cup standing.

Alexandersson’s lead in the World Cup standings is insurmountable but Ohlsson moves up to seventh thanks to her victory.