Norway makes clean sweep at nordic skiing World Cup

Johan Kjølstad (left) won, while Ola Vigen Hattestad won the B-finale. Photo: www.skiforbundet.no.

STOCKHOLM, March 19 (Xinhua) — Norway took a clean sweep of the men’s classic sprint in a nordic skiing World Cup event here on Wednesday.

Johan Kjølstad led his country’s charge in two minutes 13.9 seconds ahead of teammate John Kristian Dahl second, 1.6 off the pace, while Eldar Roenning was third 2.1 seconds adrift.

World Cup leader Petter Northug exited the competition at the quarterfinal stage and finished 16th.

In the women’s event, Slovenia’s Petra Majdic picked up her ninth victory of the season as the 29-year-old crossed the finish line in two minutes 36.3 seconds, ahead of Finland’s Aino Kaisa Saarinen who was just 0.5 behind. Sweden’s Anna Olsson was third 1.2 seconds off the pace. Majdic leads the overall stands with 91 points clear.

Source: Xinhuanet.com