CROSS-COUNTRY:

Babikov 13th, Harvey 22nd in 20 km pursuit

March 20, 2010 — SRC Staff Report       

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FALUN, Sweden — Double Olympic champion Petter Northug of Norway won a 20-kilometre cross-country pursuit Saturday after one of his trademark sprints down the final straight.

Northug finished in 1 hour, 3.7 seconds in the 10-kilometre classical and 10-kilometre freestyle race.

The Norwegian, who had already secured the overall World Cup title, pulled away from eight other skiers shortly before the finish line, beating runner-up Tobias Angerer of Germany by 1.7 seconds. Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic came third, 1.8 seconds behind the Norwegian.

Earlier, triple Vancouver gold medallist Marit Bjoergen led a Norwegian sweep to win the women's 10-kilometre pursuit, in 31:58.4. Compatriots Kristin Stoermer Steira was 2.5 seconds behind and Therese Johaug was 33.6 seconds back in third.

Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, who has already clinched the women's overall World Cup title, finished 12th.

The season will end with handicap races on Sunday.

Ivan Babikov was the top Canadian in 13th after a close fight with Italy's Giorgio di Centa. Just behind Babikov was a large pack of finishers led by Dario Cologna, with four seconds separating 15 skiers. The pack included Alex Harvey, who edged out a Norwegian, Ole-Marius Bach, in a photo finish for 22nd. Devon Kershaw finished 38th on the day.

With the results, Harvey moves up to 18th position overall, Babikov moves up to 31st and Kershaw drops back to 38th. Sunday’s 15 km skate race is handicapped so racers start based on their time behind the leader.

Canada’s Dasha Gaiazova was 43rd in the women's 10 km pursuit. She now ranks 44th overall in the finals series standings, just behind young Swedish star Hanna Falk.  SRC

— The Canadian Press and Cross Country Canada contributed to this report