Liberec, Czech Republic  - Germany may have never won a gold in the team sprint, but just like in 2005 a men's silver felt like gold for the whole team.

At at home worlds 2005 in Oberstdorf and again over the past days in Liberec success in cross-country skiing seemed impossible due to a combination of bad luck and wrong waxing.

But all was forgotten when Axel Teichmann fought hard on the home stretch to beat Sami Jauhojaervi of Finland in the photo finish, with only Norway ahead.

"This silver medal feels like a gold. This medal is for the whole team," said Teichmann's team partner Tobias Angerer. "There was pressure on the team, it wasn't so easy."

Teichmann said: "We knew what we are capable of and lived up to it today. We also had good skis."

Head coach Jochen Behle agreed: "I am very happy for the athletes. They were not as bad as their results in the first races indicated. Today went the way we had expected from the outset."

Germany have medalled consistently in cross-country skiing at recent worlds, with Teichmann getting gold in the 15km 2003 and pursuit 2007. Angerer and Rene Sommerfeldt have claimed minor medals and the men's relay made the podium 2001, 2003 and 2005.

While four years ago an illness of the top star Teichmann was a major setback, the Liberec days started with wrong choice of skis which allowed Teichmann and the former World Cup champion Angerer no decent results in the 15km and the pursuit.

Others were unable to step in and the women's team featuring Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and Claudia Nystad also failed to medal. To make things worse, Nicole Fessel seemingly blocked Miriam Goessner, a teenager on loan from the biathlon team, in the sprint race Tuesday.

But all was forgotten on Wednesday as the sun came out for the first time during the championships and the Germans got their second medal overall in Liberec, following a Nordic combined silver from Tino Edelmann.

Behle said he was upbeat about the men's relay, while Tom Reichelt and Rene Sommerfeldt could also get a medal in the 50km marathon on Sunday if all goes well.

"The most important thing is that the team didn't become insecure and can perform. This result gives us hope," said Behle. (dpa)