The U.S. foursome did not receive a final placing when it was pulled off the course after being lapped during the third 5K leg, the first skating leg.
OBERSTDORF, Italy (Feb. 21) – World Cup leader Marit Bjoergen pulled away on an uphill 700 meters from the finish Monday and lifted Norway to its first gold medal of the World Nordic Ski Championships in the women's 4x5K mixed relay. Russia was silver medalist nation, 7.6 seconds back, and the bronze went to Italy.
The victory – which came in a light snow that began falling during the night, creating soft conditions – was Norway's first since 1982 when Norway won the women's 4x5K relay at the World Championships in Oslo. Bjoergen and women's pursuit champion Julia Tchepalova skied together for the final loop until Bjoergen attacked on an uphill at the 4.3K mark, and pulled away to an easy victory. Norway's winning time was 57:15.7. It was the third medal for Bjoergen (gold, silver, bronze) and Tchepalova (gold, two silvers) in three races.
The U.S. foursome did not receive a final placing when it was pulled off the course after being lapped during the third 5K leg, the first skating leg.
The next cross country events at the World Championships come Tuesday in the classic technique sprints for men and women.
2005 WORLD NORDIC SKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oberstdorf, GER – Feb. 21, 2005
Women's 4x5K Mixed Relay
1. Norway (Skjofterud, Pedersen, Steira, Bjoergen), 57:15.7
2. Russia (Kurkina, Baranova-Masolkina, Medvedeva-Abruzova, Tchepalova) 57:23.3
3. Italy (Paruzzi, Confortola, Valbusa, Follis) 58:05.4
4. Germany, 58:27.0
5. Finland, 58:40.8
–
DNF: USA (Wendy Wagner, Park City, Utah; Rebecca Dussault, Gunnison, Colo.; Sarah Konrad, Laramie, Wyo.; Kikkan Randall, Anchorage, Alaska)
Source: US Ski Team
