Swiss Dario Cologna upstaged cross-country heavyweights Petter Northug of Norway and Czech Lukas Bauer by storming to victory in the men's 15km freestyle event on his Olympic Games debut.
The 23-year-old Cologna powered his way around the winding two-loop course at Whistler Olympic Park in 33 minutes 36.3 seconds, finishing a comfortable 24.6 seconds ahead of Italy's Pietro Piller Cottrer.
Bauer, who is widely expected to vie with Northug for several medals at the Vancouver Games, took bronze.
Northug, a winner of three gold medals at last year's world championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, finished well down the field after a disappointing run.
