Canada's Kershaw 12th in World Cup x-country event

Johan Olsson of Sweden and Marit Bjoergen of Norway won the classical style mass start World Cup cross-country ski events Saturday in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic.

Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., was the top Canadian in 12th spot, four positions ahead of Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta. Toronto's Len Valjas finished 52nd while Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., didn't finish.

Olsson shook off overall World Cup leader Dario Cologna of Switzerland before the final stretch to complete the 30-kilometre race in one hour 13 minutes 42 seconds for his second victory of the season.

Cologna finished 1.5 second behind and Maxim Vylegzhanin of Russia took the third place. Cologna leads the overall standings with 1,571 points.

Bjoergen won the 15-kilometre women's race to regain the overall World Cup lead.

Bjoergen pulled away from Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland shortly before the finish line to complete the classical style race in 39 minutes 20.3 seconds.

Kowalczyk, who was leading the overall standings by two points before the race was four seconds back and another Norwegian, Therese Johaug, was 14.3 seconds behind in third.

Perianne Jones of Almonte, Ont., was 30th.

Bjoergen leads the overall standings with 1,804 points. Kowalczyk is second with 1,792 and Johaug third on 1,320.