Liberec, Czech Republic  - Petter Northug used his deadly kick again, against German Axel Teichmann, to give Norway its fifth straight men's relay cross-country skiing world title on Friday.

The pursuit champion Northug made his trademark staccato steps in the final turn before the home stretch to win the 4x10-kilometres race with Eldar Roenning, Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset and Tore Ruud Hofstad in 1 hour 41 minutes 50.6 seconds.

The Germans, who led at all three exchanges of the race, had to settle for second place like in 2003 and 2005, 2.6 seconds adrift. Finland made the podium for the first time since 1997, coming third with a deficit of 43.9 seconds.

Norway have won five relays in a row and nine out of 10 since 1991, beaten only by Austria in 1999.

They trailed Germany by 24.9 seconds at the first exchange, by 23.9 at the second and by 14.5 at the final exchange.

Northug made up the gap within two kilometres and then stayed in Teichmann's slipstream before moving ahead on the final kilometre and making his famous move in the finale.

"I tried to open hard and then to save power for the sprint. Axel pushed on the last hill but I followed and then sprinted. It is great to take gold again," said Northug.

Teichmann admitted that "I am more disappointed than happy," but German coach Jochen Behler insisted that it was no shame to lose against the awesome Northug even though the Germans had to settle for their sixth silver in Liberec and are yet to got gold.

Canada started strongly en route to a stunning fifth-place finish and Estonia were in the top three after the classic style stages at the halfway mark with 15km champion Andrus Veerpalu.

But they fell behind and the title fight was only between Germany and Norway once the third Finnish skier, Teemu Kattilakoski, tired dramatically in his final two kilometres to fall 40 seconds behind the Germans.

But the Finns were delighted about the third Liberec men's team medal after the team was battered in the 2001 doping scandal in Lahti.

"This is a very big day, a new beginning for Finnish cross-country skiing," said Matti Heikkinen.

The other medal event on Friday was large hill ski-jumping. (dpa)