The 30-year-old Russian travelled to South Korea and was pleased with what he found ahead of the Games in just under two years' time.

Cross-country action will take place at the Alpensia Cross-Country Centre in Pyeongchang as Korea hosts the Winter Olympics for the first time.

"In Korea, I liked it," said Kriukov.

"The height is 850 metres.

"The hotel where we stayed is located near the road, and everything is already established, but the Olympic Village is still being built."

Kriukov, who won the individual sprint gold medal at the Vancouver 2010 Games, said that there were similarities between Pyeongchang and the Canadian course.

He also hinted that the weather could be like it was in Sochi during his home Olympic Games in 2014.

"The ski track is located on the golf course, and is somewhat similar to Vancouver," he said.

"The weather is unpredictable, as in Sochi."

Kriukov, who has four World Championship medals in his collection, including two golds, was part of the Russian team sprint line-up which won Olympic silver in Sochi.

He won the men's Royal Palace Sprints in Stockholm in February, which formed part of the International Ski Federation (FIS) Cross-Country World Cup.