. world ski news : Follis and Hetland wins Tour de Ski sprints in Prague - 30 December 2008 - 11:31
PRAGUE, Czech Republic — Norway's Tor Arne Hetland won the men's sprint Monday in the third event of the World Cup's annual Tour de Ski series, and Arianna Follis of Italy won the women's race.
Arianna Follis, 2nd right, from Italy celebrates while winning the Fis Tour de Ski men's 1,3 km free sprint event in Prague Czech Republic, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008. Aino Kaisa Saarinen, left, from Finland placed second, Marthe Kristoffersen, 2nd left, from Norway, placed fifth, Petra Majdic, center, from Slovenia placed third and Pirjo Muranen, right, from Finland placed fourth. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Hetland finished the 1.2-kilometre freestyle sprint through downtown Prague in two minutes 17 seconds to edge Russia's Vassili Rotchev by 0.2 seconds. Jean Marc Gaillard of France was third, 0.8 seconds back.
Vassili Rotchev of Russia competes during the qualification for the men's 1.3 km free sprint at the cross country Tour de Ski competition in Prague December 29, 2008. REUTERS/Petr Josek (CZECH REPUBLIC)
Tor Arne Hetland of Norway reacts as he crosses the finish line of the men's 1.3 km Free Sprint cross country Tour de Ski competition in Prague December 29, 2008. REUTERS/Petr Josek (CZECH REPUBLIC)
Tor Arne Hetland of Norway greets spectators after winning the men's 1.3 km Free Sprint cross country Tour de Ski competition in Prague, December 29, 2008. REUTERS/Petr Josek (CZECH REPUBLIC)
George Grey of Rossland, B.C., was the top Canadian in 19th place. Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., was 26th after taking bronze in the men's 15-kilometre classic race a day earlier. Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta., was 57th.
Follis followed up her win in the qualifying race by finishing the final in 2:50 to beat overall World Cup leader Aino-Kaisa Saarinen of Finland by 0.6 seconds.
Arianna Follis from Italy celebrates after winning the Fis Tour de Ski men's 1,3 km free sprint event in Prague Czech Republic, Monday, Dec. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Slovenia's Petra Majdic was 1.3 seconds back in third place. Sara Renner, a native of Canmore, Alta., was 23rd.
This year's Tour de Ski includes seven races in nine days in three countries, with the overall winner awarded 400 World Cup points.
Dario Cologna of Italy competes during the men's 1.3 km free sprint qualification at the cross country Tour de Ski competition in Prague December 29, 2008. REUTERS/Petr Josek (CZECH REPUBLIC)
After three events, Dario Cologna leads the men's Tour standings with a combined time of 45:01.4, with Rotchev 15.4 seconds back in second. Follis leads the women's standings, eight seconds ahead of Saarinen.
Associated Press
December 29, 2008 at 1:46 PM EST