Finland on Wednesday stunned their better-fancied rivals to take gold in the men's team cross-country sprint, taking advantage of a fall by Germany on the final descent.

The Finnish duo of Sami Jauhojaervi and Iivo Niskanen howled with delight after their victory in the event, where the team of two take it in turns to perform three punishing sprints each. They finished in 23 minutes 14.89 seconds.

Germany's Tim Tscharnke looked certain to win his country a medal but fell after touching skis with Jauhojaervi on the last descent.

His fall nearly took out Russia's Nikita ­Kriukov but the Russian kept his balance to take silver for his country in 23:15.86. Sweden won the bronze.