February 27, 2007 (Sapporo, Japan) – Katerina Neumannova of the Czech Republic retained her 10km women’s cross-country skiing freestyle Nordic World Championship title in emphatic style in Sapporo.

The 34-year-old, who also won the 30km freestyle mass start at last year’s Olympics, posted a time of 23:58.4 to win by over 26 seconds.

Russia’s 15km pursuit champion, Olga Savialova, took silver, 3.7 seconds quicker than Italy’s Arianna Follis who gained her first individual medal at a major Championship.

Neumannova was edged out by half a second in the pursuit by Savialova and the pair was separated by just seven seconds on the clock at the halfway point.

But then the defending champion produced a devastating burst to surge clear of her rivals, adding 19 seconds to her lead over the Russian in the space of 3.3km.

29-year-old Follis overturned an eight-second deficit on a fading Norwegian Kristin Stoermer Steira, winner of the bronze in the pursuit, in the final 1.7km to add another bronze to the those she gained in the relays at Oberstdorf, two years ago, and in Turin.

Swedish teenager Charlotte Kalla was a surprise fifth while two-time defending World Cup champion Marit Bjoergen fell and could only manage 22nd place.

There were 72 skiers racing in this event. Among North American skiers, Dashia Gaiazova (CAN) finished 47th, at 02:53.60, followed by compatriot Tasha Betcherman in 50th, at 03:04.20. Sarah Konrad (USA) was 55th, at 03:37.90, followed by Chandra Crawford (CAN) in 59th at 04:01.29, Caitlin Compton (USA) placed 60th, at 04:06.90, and Sarah Daitch (CAN) in 61st, at 04:10.60.