Norway's Marit Bjoergen wins World Cup 10km race in Norway

By Published On: November 19th, 2005Comments Off on Norway's Marit Bjoergen wins World Cup 10km race in Norway

Norway’s Marit Bjoergen wins World Cup 10km race in Norway{mosimage}BEITOSTOLEN, Norway — Norway’s Marit Bjoergen won a women’s 10-kilometer World Cup cross-country ski race Saturday, Nov. 19, beating runner-up Virpi Kuitunen of Finland by 21 seconds.

Bjoergen, the defending overall champion, finished the classical style race in 26 minutes, 14.7 seconds.

“I’m happy with my race, but I didn’t expect to win by 21 seconds,” Bjoergen said.

It was the 22nd career World Cup victory for Bjoergen, a four-time gold medalist at the 2003 World Championships and a favorite for more gold at the Winter Olympics later this season.

Natalia Baranova of Russia finished third in 26:43:0.

Bjoergen, who won the sprint opener in Germany last month, leads the overall standings with 200 points after two races. Kuitunen and Aino Kaisa Saarinen, another Finnish skier who was sixth in Saturday’s race, share second place with 120 points.

-The Associated Press

RESULTS
Women
10 kilometers, classical style

1. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 26 minutes, 14.7 seconds.
2. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland, 26:35.7.
3. Natalia Baranova, Russia, 26:43.0.
4. Hilde G. Pedersen, Norway, 26:45.2.
5. Katerina Neumannova, Czech Republic, 26:48.4.
6. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland, 27:01.5.
7. Evi Sachenbacher Stehle, Germany, 27:09.1.
8. Julia Tchepalova, Russia, 27:09.4.
9. Lina Andersson, Sweden, 27:09.5.
10. Olga Rotsheva, Russia, 27:13.7.
11. Kristina Smigun, Estonia, 27:16.3.
12. Petra Majdic, Slovenia, 27:16.8.
13. Larisa Kurkina, Russia, 27:17.9.
14. Vibeke Skofterud, Norway, 27:19.6.
15. Riitta Liisa Lassila, Finland, 27:26.8

Overall standings
After 2 of 24 races

1. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 200 points.
2. Virpi Kuitunen, Finland 120.
(tied) Aino Kaisa Saarinen, Finland, 120.
4. Hilde G. Pedersen, Norway, 70.
5. Anna Dahlberg, Sweden, 63.
6. Natalia Baranova, Russia, 60 points.
(tied) Natalia Matveeva, Russia, 60.
8. Lina Andersson, Sweden, 55.
9. Claudia Kunzel, Germany, 50.
10. Evi Sachenbacher Stehle, Germany, 47.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh