The 18-year-old led from the start in the Finnish capital, scoring 117.8 points in the jump round to have a 43 second advantage in the five kilometre race. 

Italy’s Annika Sieff was second out of the blocks after scoring 107.1, while Mille Moen Flatla scored 106.2 to start 46 seconds behind her compatriot. 

Westvold Hansen maintained her lead throughout the race and finished in 15mins 24.8secs. 

Norway's Marte Leinan Lund, who started the race 48 seconds off the leader, managed to catch both Flatla and Sieff by the end of the first lap and placed second in 16:30.5. 

Lisa Hirner of Austria also rose through the ranks to claim third in 16:33.8. 

Sieff and Flatla slipped down to ninth and tenth respectively. 

Cross-country competition in Vuokatti was postponed due to cold temperatures.

The under-23 sprint races are now scheduled to take place tomorrow, with the men's junior 10km freestyle and women's junior 5km freestyle pushed back to Friday (February 12). 

Lahti will host the men's Nordic combined contest and the men and women's ski jumping events tomorrow.