Short distances produced large gaps.
Justyna Kowalczyk showed her strength in the women's 2,5km classic course. She managed to edge Marit Bjoergen by 8,7 seconds to take the victory. Charlotte Kalla was third and 16,9 seconds off the winner.
Olga Savialova on the fourth position was already 27,3 seconds behind the winner.
Men's race was a little tighter. Dario Cologna finished the 3,3km classic course with a time of 9:55,3 and took the victory. Mats Larsson was 4,9 seconds off the leader at the second place and Maxim Vylegzhanin was third 6,0 seconds behind the winner.
The podium was missing Petter Northug who hasn't been off of it for a month - last race where he didn't finish in top three was February 20, 30km Pursuit race in Whistler at the Vancouver Olympic Games which he ended on the 11th position. This time Northug was 10 seconds off Cologna and had to satisfy with the fourth position.
Photo: Oeyvind Watterdal
