December 2, 2007 (Kuusamo, Finland) – Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic won the fourth World Cup race of his career Sunday in a 15km classic event while American Kris Freeman, just out of a sick bed, was fifth – his best result since December 2003 – and Canada’s Devon Kershaw placed 16th.

In the women’s 10km, World Cup leader Marit Bjoergen, continuing to show she’s back and ready to rule the women’s tour again after, led Norwegians into three of the top four places.

The men raced in single-digit cold (-15 C, +5 F.) but little wind while the women had to overcome strong winds in addition to the cold north of the Arctic Circle.

Bauer, skiing next to last in the 90-skier field, took the lead by the mid-point of the three lap race and won in 37:15.8 with Norway’s Eldar Roenning second (37:15.8) and Germany’s Axel Teichmann third (37:37.7).

Freeman, who was fifth in a race in December 2003 in Davos, Switzerland, had a dramatic turn-around from a week earlier when he was 50th in a 15 km skate race in Beitostolen, Norway.

“I definitely surprised myself today,” Freeman said, “because right after the race last week I got a cold and was in bed for four or five days. I skied maybe 2-1/2 hours since the last race and there was actually a question whether I should start today.”

He said high humidity made the cold seem worse than it was, “but it didn’t bother me during the race.”

Bjoergen, skiing last in the field of 74, overtook Poland’s Justyna Kowalczyk, the early leader, and won in 28:32.8. Astrid Jacobsen, second Saturday in a classic sprint race, was second again (28:41.8) with Kowalczyk third.

Sprinters Kikkan Randall and Olympic gold medalist Chandra Crawford, skiing to help boost their distance experience, were 44th and 64th, respectively.

The tour heads next to Davos, Switzerland. After finishing fifth five years ago, Freeman was 15th last year. “I’ve got good results there. I hope I can get another one next week,” he said.

For complete women’s results click here.

For complete men’s results click here.