Therese Johaug, Martin Johnsrud Sundby earn cross-country gold

Therese Johaug and Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway extended their winning streaks in distance races at a cross-country skiing World Cup meeting on Sunday.

Johaug won her fifth successive race for the first time in a season, while it was a fourth straight victory for Sundby.

"I don't think I have ever been in such a good shape in my life," Johaug said. "Watching Martin win and my victory has been a nice Christmas gift."

It was Joahuag's 25th World Cup distance win, moving her level with Bente Skari for fourth on the all-time list.

Johaug finished the 10-kilometre women's classic interval start race in 27 minutes, 22.4 seconds — more than 28 seconds ahead of Finland's Krista Parmakoski.

Norway's Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg was third, 40.1 behind her compatriot.

Sundby was one of many men who opted for skate skis and double pole over the entire 15-kilometre course after Alexey Poltoranin did so to win in Dobbiaco last season.

Sundby beat Russia's Alexander Bessmertnykh, who was on classic skis, by 12.6 seconds. Norway's Sjur Roethe was third, 48.6 off Sundby's winning time of 35:27.4.

"Last season I did not believe it was possible to win with double pole," Sundby said. "I was so impressed by Poltoranin last year so I decided to train more double poling."

On the Canadian side, Alex Harvey, from St-Férréol-les-Neiges, Que., finished 16th with a time of 36:57.3. Harvey rebounded after a challenging sprint race Saturday to climb back into the points with the top-30 during a 15-kilometre classic-ski race on Sunday.

"I think everyone got really excited when Alex finished second on the opening weekend, but right now we are back on our plan," said Justin Wadsworth, head coach, Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team.

"The focus is on the two tours this year and we've been building to that. The results have been relatively strong heading into the Tour de Ski, and today was a step in the right direction."

He was followed by Sudbury, Ont., native Devon Kershaw, who came in 28th at 37:42.1. Graeme Killick from Fort McMurray, Alta., (54th), Michael Somppi from Thunder Bay, Ont., (70th) and Len Valjas from Toronto (75th) round off the Canadian men's results. 

In the women's event, Canadian Emily Nishikawa from Whitehorse, Yukon finished 39th with a time of 30:32.5.

""This was a good result for Emily," said Wadsworth. She is in better shape now than she has been in years past. We are hoping for Emily to get into that top-30 so we need to keep working and progressing towards that goal."