Vylegzhanin, Johaug win WCup cross-country races

DEMINO, Russia (AP) -- Maxim Vylegzhanin led a Russian 1-2 sweep in a cross-country World Cup skiathlon race Sunday for his first victory of the season, and Therese Johaug earned her first individual win of the year in the women's race.

Vylegzhanin finished the 15-kilometer classic and 15-kilometer freestyle race in 1 hour, 20 minutes, 37.6 seconds. His teammate Illia Chernousov was six seconds behind in second place.

In a close race for third, Tobias Angerer of Germany stretched his left leg to beat Eugeniy Dementiev of Russia by a couple of centimeters at the finish line. Both were timed at 8.3 seconds behind the winner.

Men's overall leader Dario Cologna of Switzerland skipped the event.

Johaug, who was part of Norway's winning team in a 4x5-kilometer relay in November, ran away from the pack with four kilometers left in the 7.5-kilometer classic and 7.5-kilometer freestyle race. She was timed in 42 minutes, 41.4 seconds.

Defending World Cup champion Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland finished a distant 26.9 seconds behind for second. Marit Bjoergen of Norway was another 26 seconds behind for third.

Bjoergen dropped to second place in the overall World Cup standings, just two points behind Kowalczyk, who has 1,682 points. Johaug is third with 1,240.

The next stop on the World Cup circuit will be at Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, on Nov. 11.