OSLO, Norway — Marit Bjoergen of Norway captured her third gold medal at the nordic world championships Monday before thousands of flag-waving fans, and the U.S. men finished fourth in the combined team event won by Austria.
The American team, which featured a trio of Steamboat Springs athletes — two-time world champion Todd Lodwick, three-time Olympic silver medalist Johnny Spillane and Bryan Fletcher — and Olympic champion Billy Demong, was 54.8 seconds behind the winners. The U.S. was second fastest in the relay but was unable to make up a 1:08 deficit after the ski jump.
Austria was led by Mario Stecher, who beat Tino Edelmann of Germany in a sprint finish. The Austrians started the cross-country relay in fourth place but won in 48 minutes, 7.8 seconds. Germany trailed by 0.4 seconds. Norway was third, 40.6 seconds back.
Bjoergen won the 10-kilometer race in 27 minutes, 39.3 seconds. She is unbeaten in a distance race since the Vancouver Olympics.
Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland, a two-time world champion, led for most of the race but was overtaken in the closing stages and finished 4.1 seconds behind. Aino Kaisa Saarinen of Finland was third, 9.7 seconds back.
Today’s competition features the men’s 15K cross country classical race. The championships end Sunday.
