KUUSAMO, Finland (AP) — Marit Bjoergen of Norway extended her perfect start to the World Cup season by winning a 5-kilometer cross-country classic event Saturday for her third individual victory.
The three-time Olympic champion led from the start to cross the line 2.1 seconds ahead of Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland. Petra Majdic of Slovenia finished 16.8 seconds back in third.
Bjoergen also won the 10K freestyle in Gallivare and the 1.2K sprint in Kuusamo.
Six Norwegian men and women pulled out of Saturday’s races due to the cold weather as temperatures plunged to 3 degrees. Two more Norwegians were ruled out by illness.