VAL DI FIEMME, Italy (AP) — Cross-country great Petter Northug anchored Norway to its second straight 4×10-kilometer relay world title, edging out Calle Halfvarsson of Sweden in a final sprint.
Tord Asle Gjerdalen, Eldar Roenning, Sjur Roethe and Northug finished in 1 hour, 41 minutes, 37.2 seconds, beating the Swedish team of Daniel Richardsson, Johan Olsson, Marcus Hellner and Halfvarsson by 1.2 seconds.
Russia finished 2.4 seconds behind Norway, denying home nation Italy its first medal of the championships by 0.2 seconds.
Norway, Sweden, Russia and Italy pulled clear on the last lap, with Halfvarsson attacking on the final climb and holding off Northug heading to the finish straight.
Northug had never lost from that position and overtook Halfvarsson with 100 meters to go for his ninth world title.
