CROSS-COUNTRY:

Cologna, Kowalczyk wrap up XC crowns, Canada’s Babikov 8th in pursuit

March 12, 2011

LAHTI, Finland — Dario Cologna of Switzerland clinched the men's overall cross-country World Cup title Saturday by winning the 20-kilometre pursuit at the Lahti Ski games, while Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland secured her third straight women's crown.

Cologna beat Maurice Manificat of France in a sprint, winning by 0.8 seconds. Vincent Vittoz of France was third.

Cologna has a lead of more than 450 points over Petter Northug of Norway, who skipped this event after winning three gold medals at the World Championships in Oslo this month. Northug cannot make up the difference at the World Cup Finals in Sweden next week.

"I had a good feeling during all of the race," Cologna said. "I knew I can win, and focused more on the sprint ahead."

Cologna also won the overall title in 2009, and his second crown helps make up for a disappointing worlds, after leaving Oslo without a single medal.

"It feels good to be on the podium again," Cologna said. "You cannot get a medal every time. Our team had difficulties with the snow in Oslo, we had not much experience of that, it was very special. But I will look ahead, not back. I had a very good season and am satisfied."

Earlier, Therese Johaug of Norway beat Kowalczyk in a photo finish Saturday to win the women's 10K pursuit.

The second-place finish was enough for Kowalczyk to clinch the overall title, as she leads Marit Bjoergen of Norway by more than 600 points ahead of Sunday's sprint and next week's finals in Sweden.

"Now I can ski the rest of the season without pressure," Kowalczyk said. "Then I have to prepare to be regarded as the most popular athlete in Poland, and that people there are interested in every step I take."

Bjoergen dominated the World Championships in Oslo this month with four golds, but skipped the Tour de Ski to prepare for the event.

Ariana Follis of Italy was third on Saturday, while Bjoergen narrowly beat Sweden's Charlotte Kalla for fourth.

Johaug was the only skier to beat Bjoergen at the worlds, winning the 30 km freestyle race.

Canada's Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., finished eighth in the men's 20-kilometre pursuit to move closer to a spot in the World Cup Finals.

The two-time Olympian posted a time of 47 minutes, 36.3 seconds.

“I fought hard to stay close to the lead group in the classic and then was able to close the gap a bit in the skate leg,” said Babikov, whose finish moves him into 44th spot overall.

Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., finished 22nd with a time of 48:19.0. Graham Nishikawa of Whitehorse, was 57th (50:27.3), while Alex Harvey of St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que., had to pull out of the race when his back seized up during the first lap of the skate-ski leg.

The World Cup continues on Sunday in Finland with the men’s and women’s sprint races.

— The Canadian Press contributed to this report