Sports

Kowalczyk beats Bjorgen, wins 10-km race

Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk held off Marit Bjorgen to win a 10-kilometre classical race and extend her overall World Cup lead in women's cross-country.

Polish skier had best intermediate times at every checkpoint of interval start race

Poland's Justyna Kowalczyk held off Marit Bjorgen to win a 10-kilometre classical race and extend her overall World Cup lead in the women's cross-country circuit.

Kowalczyk had the best intermediate times at every checkpoint of the interval start race and finished in 26 minutes, 52.7 seconds.

Saturday's victory comes just six days after she secured the Tour de Ski title.

Bjorgen was 4.2 seconds back in second place. Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland finished third.

In the men's event, Lukas Bauer built a commanding 20-second lead halfway through the 15-kilometre classical style race and was never threatened. He finished in 36:45.7 to beat Andrus Veerpalu of Estonia by 16.9 seconds.

Jaak Mae of Estonia was third. Overall World Cup leader Petter Northug skipped the race.