NOVE MESTO, Czech Republic (Jan. 18) – Norway’s Bente Skari fattened herWorld Cup lead Saturday as she earned her 35th victory, winning a 10-kmskate race, while national favorite Lukas Bauer won for the first time,taking the men’s 15-km by a half-minute over Christian Hoffmann of Austria.Carl Swenson (Boulder, CO) topped U.S. skiers in 32nd place, 2.6 secondsout of the points.Skari won in 25:11.8 with Gabriella Paruzzi of Italy second in 25:19.1 andKristina Smigun of Estonia third. The Czech’s first win came in 34:54.8with Hoffman timed in 35:24.9 and Per Elofsson of Sweden third in the fieldof 79 men.Swenson, in his first World Cup of the season as the U.S. Ski Team joinedthe tour – and direct from winning three skate races at the Chevy TruckU.S. Cross Country Championships in Rumford, ME, had a time of 36:53.1.Andrew Johnson (Greensboro, VT) was 42nd and Justin Wadsworth (Bend, OR),who was 22nd in a race in Davos, Switzerland, in Christmas, finished 55th.VIESSMANN CROSS COUNTRY WORLD CUPNove Mesto, CZE – Jan. 18Men’s 15-km FR1. Lukas Bauer, Czech Republic, 34:54.82. Christian Hoffmann, Austria, 35:24.93. Per Elofsson, Sweden, 35:25.54. Giorgio DiCenta, Italy, 35:28.55. Vincent Vittoz, France, 35:28.7-32. Carl Swenson, Boulder, CO, 36:33.142. Andrew Johnson, Greensboro, VT, 37:34.455. Justin Wadsworth, Bend, OR, 37:54.3–Women’s 10-km FR1. Bente Skari, Norway, 25:11.82. Gabriella Paruzzi, Italy, 25:19.13. Kristina Smigun, Estonia, 25:22.64. Evi Sachenbacher, Germany, 25:26.65. Kaisa Varis, Finland, 25:28.1–World Cup Standings (13 races)Men1. Rene Sommerfeldt, Germany, 4662. Mathias Fredriksson, Sweden, 4303. Tor Arne Hetland, Norway, 3404. (tie) Bauer and Vittoz, 317 each–Women1. Skari, 7422. Smigun, 6643. Paruzzi, 4644. Marit Bjoergen, Norway, 4205. Sachenbacher, 372