February 9, 2008 (Otepaeae, Estonia) – The FIS Viessmann Cross Country World Cup kicked back into gear on Saturday after a two-week hiatus following the four days of racing in Canmore, Alberta. World Cup leader Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic and Virpi Kuitunen of Finland won the two classic technique races.

Kris Freeman, who is getting back on track after sickness hobbled him for the previous eight weeks, was 16th in the men’s 15km race. Temperatures were in the mid-30s F. (+2.3 C.), creating spring conditions, which added to the tricky waxing.

Bauer, who took the World Cup points lead during the Tour de Ski a month ago, routed most of the field, winning in 39:29.4 with Estonian Jaak Mae second, 13.7 seconds back. Everyone else was more than a minute out and Freeman just under two minutes off the pace (41:29.2).

The top Canadian result came from Devon Kershaw, who was 33rd (42:18.6), less than four seconds out of the World Cup points, which go to the top 30 finishers. Drew Goldsack, George Grey and Alex Harvey were 44th, 45th and 46th in the field of 74.

In the women’s 10km CL, Kuitunen and teammate Aino Kaisa Saarinen were 1-2 after the first lap and finished that way. Kuitunen’s winning time was 28:10.5, putting her 9.3 seconds ahead of Saarinen as she padded her World Cup overall lead.

The top five women at the end of the first 5km loop finished in that order. Norway’s Therese Johaug was third, Claudia Nystad – the German star who is married to ex-U.S. Coach Trond Nystad – was fourth and Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk fifth.

Only two North American women raced. Kikkan Randall, trying to shed the “sprint specialist” label, was 42nd and Canadian Madeleine Williams 47th in the field of 58.

Canadian Coach Dave Wood said, “It was a bit of a mediocre day for us today. Devon was with the top-20 until after the second lap and faded away. I think it was good day for Alex, being so young, and for Madeleine, who was competing in her first strong international race.”

Classic technique sprint races are on tap Sunday.

Results

Women

1. Virpi Kuitunen (Fin) 28:10.5
2. Aino-Kaisa Saarinen (Fin) 28:19.8
3. Therese Johaug (Nor) 28:28.1
4. Claudia Nystad (Ger) 28:29.5
5. Justyna Kowalczyk (Pol) 28:38.5

42. Kikkan Randall (USA) 30:48.9
47. Madeleine Williams (Can) 31:17.4

Women’s full results here.

Men

1. Lukas Bauer (Cze) 39:29.4
2. Jaak Mae (Est) 39:43.1
3. Ville Nousiainen (Fin) 40:34.6
4. Andrus Veerpalu (Est) 40:40.2
5. Odd-Bjoern Hjelmeset (Nor) 40:43.8

16. Kris Freeman (USA) 41:29.2
44. Drew Goldsack (Can) 43:07.2
45. George Grey (Can) 43:08.9
46. Alex Harvey (Can) 43:10.2

Men’s full results here.