Manificat, Oestberg win at x-country World Cup

Maurice Manificat of France and Davos specialist Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg won long-distance freestyle races at the cross-country skiing World Cup on Sunday in Davos, Switzerland, while Canadian Alex Harvey came away with a 10th place finish and personal best at the course.

Canadian Alex Harvey finishes 10th in 15km for his best result at Davos

Maurice Manificat of France celebrates winning the Men's 15-km x-country World Cup race. (Gian Ehrenzeller/EPA)

Maurice Manificat of France and Davos specialist Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg won long-distance freestyle races at the cross-country skiing World Cup stage on Sunday in Davos, Switzerland.

Manificat completed the 15-kilometre men's course in 33 mintues, 56.2 seconds, four seconds ahead of two-time world champion Sergei Ustyugov of Russia.

Another Russian, Alexander Bolshunov, was third trailing 14.6 seconds behind Manificat.  

Alex Harvey finished 10th, as he clocked a personal-best time of 34:57.4 at Davos

"I have always struggled at altitude so this is by far my best result here," said Harvey.

"Altitude is really a physiology thing. It is never going to be perfect for me, but we have found ways to prepare for it and get better little by little each year. I couldn't ask for much more today. The goal is always to be in the top-10."

Oestberg won the 10-kilometre race 5.9 seconds ahead of fellow Norwegian Ragnhild Haga. Third-placed Krista Parmakoski of Finland was 7.9 seconds back.

"Davos is my favourite place, it's almost the only venue I can win a World Cup," said Oestberg, who has three wins at the Swiss resort.

World Cup leader Charlotte Kalla of Sweden was eighth, 26 seconds back.

With files from CBC Sports