CROSS-COUNTRY:

Rickardsson, Bjoergen tune up for worlds with World Cup wins

Feb. 19, 2011

DRAMMEN, Norway — Daniel Rickardsson of Sweden and Marit Bjoergen of Norway won races at the cross-country World Cup on Saturday ahead of the upcoming World Championships.

Rickardsson finished the 15-kilometre classic-style race in 37 minutes 19.1 seconds to claim his World Cup victory of the season.

"It's a nice feeling and it gives me good self-confidence," said Rickardsson. "I hope I can take another step forward next week."

Martin Johnsrud Sundby crossed the line 29.0 seconds behind the Swede. Two-time Olympic champion Petter Northug of Norway was third, 30 seconds back.

Two Canadians scored World Cup points, with Devon Kershaw picking it up as the race progressed to finish 26th and Alex Harvey 30th in a tightly bunched group near the top of the results. Ivan Babikov in 44th and George Grey in 68th were the other Canadian representatives in the race.

In the women's 10-kilometre classic race, home favourite and three-time Olympic champion Bjoergen dominated from start to finish to claim her ninth World Cup win of the season.

"It's very good to win a World Cup at home," said Bjoergen. "It was a good race for me today. There were a lot of people along the course."

The 30-year-old Norwegian clocked 27:31.9. Polish skier Justyna Kowalczyk, who leads the World Cup standings, trailed the Norwegian by 17.3 seconds.

Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland took third place, 23.6 seconds back.

The skiers return to action on Sunday for men's and women's World Cup sprint events.

Dasha Gaiazova was the top Canadian in 61st place. Chandra Crawford was 64th, Perianne Jones 66th and Brooke Gosling 68th.

The World Championships begin Wednesday in Oslo with qualification rounds in the 5-kilometre women's and 10-kilometre men's cross-country events.

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