BEITOSTOLEN, Norway—Axel Teichmann and Marit Bjorgen won the season-opening distance races at a World Cup cross country ski meet Saturday.
The German covered the men’s 15-kilometer freestyle event in 36 minutes, 31.1 seconds, beating runner-up Lukas Bauer of the Czech Republic by 6.3 seconds. Anders Sodergren of Sweden was third, 31.3 seconds back.
Bjorgen won the women’s 10K earlier, beating Vibeke Skofterud by 20.3 seconds.
Bjorgen, a former two-time overall champion, finished in 26 minutes, 16.3 seconds for her 29th World Cup win, but her first in freestyle.
“It feels extra special to win my first freestyle race here,” the Norwegian said. “I’m very happy because this was Norway’s first (World Cup) freestyle win on the women’s side since 2003.”
Charlotte Kalla was third in 26:37.5 for her first career podium finish.
