Norwegians sweep cross country pursuit races in Ruka

Norwegian duo Martin Johnsrud Sundby and Therese Johaug defended their leads to win pursuit races on Sunday to wrap up a three-day mini tour that opened the cross-country skiing World Cup.

Johnsrud Sundby won the men's 15-kilometre classic race in 37 minutes, 10.0 seconds to lead a Norwegian sweep, as Petter Northug advanced from fourth to second and Finn Haagen Krogh was third. Northug finished 44.7 seconds behind the winner, with Krogh 46.5 back.

Canada's Alex Harvey who started third after a bronze medal in the Saturday race, slipped back to 7th place. Devon Kershaw was 23rd, Ivan Babikov, 50th, Graeme Killick, 55th and Michael Stomppi, 81st.

"It was a tough race for sure. I felt really good, in fact I think it was the best day I had physically, but it was really tricky waxing conditions," said Harvey.

Starting time behind the leaders based on the results of the opening two races, the Saint Ferreol les Neiges, Que. resident worked the front of the chase pack with Dario Cologna as leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby took off the front and left the world chasing for the final two spots on the podium.

With fresh, wet snow evolving on top of an icy track, Harvey was in the mix until the final two laps around the six-loop race.

Norwegians had best skis

"Our skis really weren't that bad. The speeds were average, but the difference was the Norwegians and Italians had the best skis. I was right there until the final kilometre but I think as the track started [deteriorating] I lost the group on the last downhill," said Harvey.

It was a solid opening weekend for three-time Olympian, Devon Kershaw. The Sudbury, Ont. resident climbed six spots in the standings after clocking the 17th fastest time of the day to finish 23rd overall at 38:55.5.

"This is usually the hardest race we do all year. People are just going bananas from the gun," said Kershaw. "You have to warm up well, ski well technically, go with the pace and hope for the best."

 "I am super satisfied with the weekend. Seventh is my best final ranking in Kuusamo. I just felt I had something more in me today than seventh."

Johnsrud Sundby started 13.8 seconds ahead of Krogh after winning a 10K freestyle race on Saturday and quickly extended his lead.

"I aimed to open skiing hard, to keep the field well behind," Johnsrud Sundby said. "After three laps I felt strain but I held on, toward the end it was extremely hard work."

Johaug in class of her own

Johaug was also in a class of her own, winning the women's 10K race in 27:22.3 seconds. Sweden's Stina Nilsson was second, 22.6 seconds behind, and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg of Norway was 32.4 back in third.

Emily Nishikawa, the lone Canadian woman, placed 60th.

"I was focused, but got a lump in my throat at the first uphill when I was forced to change to the fishbone steps," Johaug said, referring to the more time-consuming technique for negotiating steep hills. "But I shook it off, put on 'blinders' and did my very own race."

Johnsrud Sundby, the defending overall World Cup champion, opened up an early lead in the standings to sit 66 points ahead of Northug and with 110 points down to Krogh in third.

"A great start to the season, everything worked well," Johnsrud Sundby said.

Johaug leads the women's overall standings 33 points ahead of Nilsson, who had two runner-up finishes over the weekend. Oestberg trails Johaug by 76 points.

Norway's Heidi Weng started third but made a bizarre mistake after seven kilometres when she didn't realize she had another lap to go. She sprinted down the final stretch and threw herself over the finish line to lie exhausted on the ground. When she was told there was another lap, she was given permission to change track and continue the race, but the mistake cost her six placings in the end.

The World Cup event at the Ruka ski centre was marred by bad weather. Both events in ski jumping and Nordic combined were cancelled as hard winds prevented jumping.